What is the business case for introducing ergonomics into workplaces?
Well, it is always based on multiple levels, focusing on financial, operational or human benefits. Here are some arguments in favour:
- Improving operational efficiency: Ergonomics aims to optimise workstations so that employees can perform their tasks more efficiently and accurately. Improving the layout of tools, tables and ergonomic settings can reduce the time it takes to complete a task, thus reducing working time and errors. Operational efficiency translates into production cost savings.
- Reduced health costs: non-ergonomic workstations lead to injuries and long-term health complaints, such as back, wrist or spinal pain. Improving ergonomics can reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses, leading to reduced costs associated with medical treatment, absenteeism and sick pay.
- Increased productivity: Comfortable and safe workplaces affect the wellbeing of employees, which can contribute to their motivation and commitment to their duties. Satisfied employees are more likely to work efficiently and take initiative, which, according to our observations, often translates into increased productivity.
- Reducing staff turnover: An unergonomic working environment can contribute to high staff turnover. Introducing ergonomics can improve the quality of work and increase employee satisfaction, which in turn can reduce turnover, reducing costs associated with recruiting, training and inducting new employees.
- Reduce adaptation costs: introducing new employees to a workplace can involve a period of learning and adjustment. Ergonomic workstations can help new employees adapt more quickly to the demands of the job, reducing adaptation time and thereby increasing productivity from the outset.
- Compliance with regulations and standards: Many countries have regulations governing working conditions and worker safety, including ergonomic aspects. Failure to properly comply with these requirements can lead to financial penalties and sanctions. By implementing ergonomics, a company can avoid these costs.
- Improving the company's image: Investing in good working conditions and keeping employees healthy has a positive impact on the company's image in the eyes of employees. This, in turn, can help to attract talented employees and customers and strengthen the company's position in the market.
Main objectives
- Increase productivity in productive areas.
- To reduce the incidence of illness.
- Assistance in the selection of ergonomic assessment methods for workstations.
- Training in the assessment and optimisation of workstations.
- Assistance in the interpretation of data and preparation of norms and proposals for change.
Measurement methods
- Video analysis - planned activities.
- Photography - measurement of body position.
- Snapshot observation.
- Unplanned activities.
- Distance measurement - Work area.
Benefits
- Increased productivity through improved efficiency at the workstation and throughout the area.
- Improved flow by improving process ergonomics.
- Practical application of the methods learnt when assessing workplaces.
- Reduction in time-consuming activities by up to 15% through improved movement economics.
- Increased employee job satisfaction and morale.
- Reduction in sickness absence.
For whom
- Professional support for production preparation departments.
- For companies planning regular ergonomic assessments with properly selected and prepared methods and tools.
- For companies wishing to prepare for significantly higher production loads.
- For companies wishing to reduce sickness and absenteeism.
- For bosses who care about their employees and want to meet their targets.
In summary, the introduction of ergonomics into workplaces has the potential to bring significant financial benefits by increasing productivity, reducing health costs and improving the overall quality of work. With the right data collected through observation and measurement, you can present these arguments to the decision-makers in your company in the form of a cost-benefit analysis or as an action plan to improve your company's operational efficiency through the implementation of ergonomics.
What do we offer?
We assist you in the substantive and practical preparation of such an analysis, supported by relevant reports. We help you assess how much your company can gain by introducing appropriate solutions to ergonomics problems.
Fig. 1 . An example of the application of a tool for assessing the locations particularly prone to ergonomics problems at selected workstations. The example includes the Timer Pro Professional screen.
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