What Are The Keys To Effective Ergonomics Systems In The Short And Long Term? Part 3

This is the third part out of four in the article series on the 4 M’s to effective and sustainable ergonomics systems. The third M stands for Mindset. According to the Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, mindset means “mental inclination, tendency, or habit”. Another definition is offered by thefreedictionary.com, “A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations.” Mindset is the third key principle on which successful ergonomics systems are built. One must determine whose mindset must be understood. In this case there are three primary people or groups whose mindset is important to define and understand. The three are your own, administration and employees.

The typical mental attitudes and tendencies of those the latter two groups are important to know and understand as the design of the ergonomics system must address and support and/or counteract their mindset. The predominant attitude that must be understood by ergonomists and others is the perception that productivity and safety are opposites. Although it is intuitive for us to know and realize the inter-relationship between productivity and safety it typically isn’t for those in administration. There are many reasons for this. Let’s consider the common stereotypes for both. Below is how I would define the stereotypes:

Safety= expensive, necessary evil, slows things down, burden, something done after the fact, limited budget, “ugly duckling”
Production/Operations=revenue producing, go as fast as possible, budget whatever is necessary, “golden goose”

The stereotypes are pretty much direct opposites of each other. Are those stereotypes accurate? Let’s take a look at the definitions of each one:

Safety: the condition of being safe; freedom from danger, risk, or injury. 2. A device (system) designed to prevent accidents
Productivity: the rate at which a company produces goods or services, in relation to the amount of materials and number of employees needed

Again, the definitions do not show any overlap between the two so we shouldn’t be surprised by the mindset of administration and even of some employees that the two are not inter-related. So how do we start to change the stereotype of opposites to likes? We focus on what’s important to administration which is to relate it back to the number one business goal—the bottom line. Businesses need to maximize revenues and minimize expenses in order to have a healthy bottom line. This is done by maximizing productivity, efficiency and quality while at the same time minimizing wasted time, effort and motions, errors and injuries. You may have noticed that the previous statement continues to keep productivity and safety separated as the goal is to maximize one while minimizing the other. The chasm between them is bridged by the understanding that only by providing a safe work environment is it possible for employees to achieve maximum performance.

Now that the mindset of administration has been defined as well as the basis for it let’s focus on the mindset of you (me). First let’s look at the “inner game” or our thoughts and tendencies. Here is the mindset that I believe we must have to be successful:

It’s not just about Safety
Look and Think about safety issues through multiple lenses
Identify and Quantify how safety issues affect productivity