Prevention Through Design or Productivity Through Design: Why Not Both?
Why does there still remain a chasm between productivity and prevention? In the great majority of companies I’ve worked for and others I’ve known they maintain separate departments and personnel on productivity and prevention, i.e. operations, quality/lean vs. EHS, risk management. There is little, if any, overlap or regular collaboration between them. This disconnect often results in work policies, procedures and design that are less than optimal for employee performance.
When companies decide to design new buildings or work processes the typical top priority is focused on productivity—how the design will allow the work to get done efficiency. Typically the people involved in the design phase are designers, engineers, constructers, and the “productivity” personnel for the company. These people are definitely needed; however, there are key personnel who are left out of the design phase that should be involved in order to truly optimize functionality and performance. Who am I talking about? The personnel should include those who look at the design from a human performance point of view, i.e. maximize/sustain human productivity and efficiency while preventing errors, mistakes and injuries—an ergonomist. In addition, personnel should include those who are knowledgeable in environmental and chemical “efficiency” and “maintainers” (the one(s) who will be maintaining the equipment). Having all of these key personnel at the table during the design phase is critical in order to fully consider and test all possible options. Making changes on paper is much more cost effective than making modifications that occur during or after construction. The end result is a design that “designs in” human performance, efficiency and quality while “designing out” hazards and risks of work operations.
From a safety perspective there has been an initiative to bring attention to the prevention aspect of design. Prevention Through Design (PTD) is an initiative that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) started in 2007. NIOSH defines PTD as “the optimal method of preventing occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities is to “design out” the hazards and risks; thereby, eliminating the need to control them during work operations. This approach involves the design of tools, equipment, systems work processes and facilities in order to reduce or eliminate, hazards associated with work.” I am in total agreement with the purpose of PTD but feel safety, productivity and quality need to be treated and considered equally during design and daily work operations. This is the reason I suggest a new strategy be implemented emphasis this approach—Productivity and Prevention Through Design.
What do you think? Keep things separate or bring them together?