Managing Ergonomics Injury in the Manufacturing Industry
One major issue in the manufacturing sector comes from ergonomic injuries. In this blog, we talk about how these ergonomic injuries can be prevented with the right training. This blog is an excerpt from the whitepaper, How Ergonomic Injuries in the Manufacturing Industry Can Be Prevented.
Implementing a set of best practices to improve workplace ergonomics is the key to preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Recognizing risk factors right from the time workplaces are designed, furniture and equipment are chosen, and training programs are commissioned is critical to minimize the risks of such injuries.
By reducing ergonomic risk factors and creating user-friendly work processes, manufacturers can reduce or prevent costly injuries, improve productivity, and maintain quality.
The onus is on the plant head and health & safety leader to follow proper safety procedures to minimize ergonomic injuries. Below are a few suggestions:
- Repositioning Every 30 Minutes: Training your employees to get up and move around at least every 30 minutes is necessary to help employees stimulate blood flow to muscles strained from repetitive motions.
- Lifting and Moving: Lifting far away from your body can cause a strain on your back as you continue to rise. It is crucial to have the equipment as close to your body as possible to avoid injury. If possible, employees should also be given lifting aids to help prevent awkward postures.
- Awkward Postures: Work surfaces should be the right height for the task and the user to eliminate bending or over-reaching. Employers should also provide a sit/stand stool to reduce the time a worker is standing and avoid any irritation in the legs or muscles.
- Pushing and Pulling: Pushing and pulling is one of the frequent requirements on the manufacturing shop floor. There are many options to improve the ergonomics of pushing and pulling, such as reducing the distance of travel, ensuring that the wheels are appropriate for the surface, and performing scheduled maintenance to ensure the employee is using safe equipment.
Benefits of Effective Ergonomics
Installing ergonomic best practices into the design plan of a task and using good safety management processes can assist in reducing the risk of injuries. Not only does this have a positive impact on the employee, but it greatly benefits the entire organization. In brief, indirect benefits include:
- Reduction of costs
- Higher employee engagement in work practices
- Improved quality of workmanship
- Increased productivity
- Better safety culture
- Overall business, financial and operational improvement
Injury tracking with ComplianceQuest’s Health and Safety Incident Management Solution
ComplianceQuest has a secure injury tracking tool that replaces paper-based injury forms. The ComplianceQuest Health and Safety Management solution incorporates a user-friendly, intuitive portal wherein employees from any department and in any location can report an incident, near-miss, or observation. Take preventive measures with a “system of collaboration,” helping various teams and key stakeholders collaborate and work together. Automate regulatory submission and compliance with CQ Health and Safety Incident Management.
Employees can record injuries and set up email notifications in real time so that all necessary parties are aware of an incident on site. The injury tracking tool enables both employers and employees to track all details of an injury (including medical treatment and lost days/job restrictions) and take the appropriate steps to have an employee safely return to work. The injury tracking tool will help both safety professionals and employers identify where risk factors exist in a manufacturing shop and provide the ability to pull real-time data into visual reports to share with the entire company.
Are you a safety leader looking to automate the process of incident reporting and management, across all your office locations? Are you looking for a solution that can minimize ergonomic injuries by spotting muscle pain early on and taking swift action before it becomes worse?
CQ EHS offers a next-generation Incident Management Solution that is truly collaborative and easy to use. It is designed to spot health & safety issues ahead of time and take preventive measures with agility and nimbleness.
To know more, request a demo here: https://www.compliancequest.com/personalized-demo/
