People + Process = Performance

ergonomics

5 Most Common Reasons Ergonomics (as well as other) Programs Fail: Part 2

Reason #1:  Lack of a Systems and Systems Aproach 

How are new program ideas generated?  Where do they get there start?  Well, typically things start because there is a need for something.  Once the need is identified, then the company has to decide how to address that need.  This is often done by a person or committee that sifts through choices and determines the best one.  Then is assigned to lead the program and implement the changes.  There is typically a budget and a timeline attached for implementation.

5 Most Common Reasons Ergonomics (fill in the blank) Programs Fail: Part 1

How many times has your company started new programs only for them to fail within months to a couple years?  How many initiatives are you able to count that have come and gone within the past 5-10 years?  Does your company roll out new initiatives every year that in essence focus on the same thing, i.e. customer service, increased sales, improved safety, etc.?  Does it feel like these programs are trying to reinvent the wheel over and over again?

5 Keys to Bridging Productivity and Safety

All too often I hear safety professionals lament that safety is compromised for increased productivity.  They tend to be dismayed by the fact that the focus of the operations managers and corporate level executives are to maximize efficiency and productivity as much as (humanly) possible.  For the safety professional, the focus is on employee health and safety.  It’s not the safety professionals don’t want profits and it’s not the corporate executives want injured employees, however if the corporate executives are forced to choose between safety and productivity the choice will almost alway

Restaurant owners: What You Should Know About Eyes of Baby Boomers

Have you ever thought about your eyes or the eyes of the people around you?  An article in the Star Tribune earlier this week caught my eye.  It was about the difficulty baby boomers are having reading restaurant menus.  It describes baby boomers who struggle to read menus in small font or in restaurants with low lighting.  Some have had to have their spouse or the waiter read the menu to them.  It tells of certain restaurants that have had to stock cheaters and mini flashlights to give to customers who can’t read the

Where does health & safety (organizational) success come from?

I was meeting with a health and safety manager recently who shared that his manufacturing company’s H&S numbers weren’t very good. His supervisor wasn’t happy with the numbers and was given the directive to improve his numbers and rejuvenate the H&S culture of the company.  He went on to say that the safety committee met on a regular basis but the employees didn’t really want to be there.  In short, the company lacked energy and enthusiasm for safety.

Myths regarding Ergonomics

When I left the “comfort” of the my corporate position to start Kelby Ergo Design I was immediately struck by two things:  1) the majority of the people I met at business networking events hadn’t heard of my title, “ergonomist”, although most had heard the term ergonomics, and 2) they shared similar misconceptions of what ergonomics was and the impact it could have on business.  I thought I’d address the top three common “myths” that I see as an ergonomist.  There are definitely more than three but I’ll save those for other posts.

Myth #1—Ergonomics is just about safety

Gait Belts Not Considered A Safe “Lifting Device”- Are They Safe—Period?

The debate on whether gait belts are safe lifting devices for caregivers to use with patients who require assistance has been going on since safe patient handling (SPH) became a focus issue for healthcare facilities and caregivers alike.  Just last week MNOSHA stated that they and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) do not consider gait belts as “lifting devices”(MNOSHA e-newsletter, Safety Lines, http://www.dli.mn.gov/OSHA/PDF/7

Is it possible to create a hazard free workplace?

One of the things that continues to amaze me is how many people, safety and ergonomic professionals included, believe that it is impossible to have a workplace that is free of hazards and therefore free of injuries.  I’ve heard many times from supervisors and even safety directors that it is impossible to remove all of the hazards from the workplace so they don’t even try.  They believe that achieving zero lost days or zero recordable injuries isn’t realistic.  Obviously situations, equipment and people change over time which makes it hard to identify and control hazards.  It requires commi

Lack of Sleep: A Concern for Employers?

I find myself a little sleep deprived today after Christmas.  The normal amount of sleep I normally get each night was changed from the family get-togethers and other events and “to-dos” leading up to and right after Christmas.  My body and mind feel a bit more sluggish.  The words to complete this blog come slower than usual as my ability to think and maintain concentration are effected.  What I really want to do is to lie down and take a nap.