What’s the best location (department) for ergonomics to reside?

“Location, location, location!”  We’ve all heard those words when it comes to real estate.  The same house located on a lake is of more value and therefore worth much more than when it is located on a street in the city.  The same can be said for where the roles and responsibility of an ergonomic program resides.  The value to company can rise and fall depending on the location.  If you read this month’s (December 2011) feature article you probably have a good idea on the best location.  The most common location for ergonomic programs is in EHS or HR.  It’s not that these locations are wrong; it’s just that they tend to limit the affect and therefore, benefit/value of ergonomics to the company.  The best and most impactful location for ergonomics is in the operations or engineering department.   Here are the reasons why I believe that ergonomics belongs in operations or engineering:

• Only becomes a health and safety concern once an injury has occurred
• Ergonomic issues are rooted in product and workstation design
• Sustainable fixes are engineering controls
• Design standards are the way to get ahead and stop chasing injuries
• Ability to influence design is at the beginning stage (who’s in charge of work process/equipment changes–ops/eng)
• Cost of design change is least at the beginning stage (see above)

So to be most effective and sustainable, and to get the most value and benefit to your company, place your ergonomics program in operations or engineering.