Are productivity and efficiency mutually exclusive of employee safety, comfort and zero injuries? The answer is obviously no. However how many meetings and projects occur between management, quality and employee health and safety departments? This answer is almost never. Why?
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
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.
In my previous blog I cited an article in the Star Tribune that was about a auto parts company that has their workers performing Pilates as a way to prevent injuries and reduce workers’ compensation costs. Two questions came to mind when I read that article. The first question “Is an exercise class the best way to lower workers’ compensation costs?” and second, “What is the cost/benefit of having such a program?” I answered the first question in my previous blog so now let’s look at the cost/benefit of an exercise program, in other words what is the return on investment (ROI).
