Evaluating and Reducing Ergonomic Risk

Work-site analysis is the primary business of ErgExperts as it is responsible for the analysis and redesign of workstations and environments to reduce or eliminate the ergonomic risk factors that are currently inherent. ErgExperts can aid in the selection of jobs to include for this type of analysis, or as in many cases, corporations ask for a specific analysis and job redesign for an area or areas of their facility. Whether the job involves the redesign of an office workstation or setting up an entire new line, ErgExperts has the experience and tools required to ensure ergonomic satisfaction.

New (Clean Sheet) Plant, Line or Facility Development

ErgExperts can help your corporation determine the optimal set-up of an assembly, production line, work cell, or office before it is built. ErgExperts utilizes anthropometrically correct computer models to evaluate proposed designs and make recommendations with respect to line height, material flows, and manual-material-handling aids that will reduce the postural demands on the employees while improving efficiency.

ErgExperts reviews existing workstations or facilities (when available) and uses this information to provide a report that outlines the specific design, product flow, and manual-material-handling recommendations.

Industrial or Factory (Non-Office)

ErgExperts utilizes its proprietary System To Evaluate Ergonomic Risk (STEER) to analyze the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by the following major body parts: hand & wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, neck, and legs. The STEER methodology utilizes known and published risk factors and thresholds to derive a rating for each body part. The STEER ratings for the upper extremities differentiates between the left and right unlike other system in use such as the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and the Job Strain Index (JSI).

In addition to providing a numerical rating of the existing risk likelihood, a STEER report includes engineering, administrative, and work-practice controls that give the corporation options for addressing the ergonomic risk factors inherent in the job. The controls range from short-term quick fixes to longer-term production or product design strategies.

The STEER methodology also includes employee survey discomfort data that may also be incorporated in the risk statement or can be utilized by corporations as part of their decision process or "Trigger Point."

The STEER methodology requires an ErgExperts ergonomist to visit your site and review existing production and staffing requirements, and based on the data collected during this visit, the body-part-specific risk profiles are generated as well as the short- to long-term controls that reduce or eliminate the ergonomic risk.

Office

ErgExperts provides an on-site review of office workstations and provides an on-the-floor "immediate fix" to some of the office-related ergonomic risk factors. ErgExperts provides a summary of the ergonomic risk factors for the office as well as a list of immediate fixes as part of the standard report. In addition, ErgExperts provides short- and long-term recommendations that address the office-related ergonomic risk factors. Recommendations with respect to the layout of the office, ambient and task lighting, seating, desk real estate, computer components and accessories, phone and multimedia aids, as well as storage and office footprint features are discussed.

Service, Maintenance and Construction

ErgExperts utilizes work-sampling techniques to aid in the determination of exposure to published risk factors. ErgExperts utilizes work sampling because some firms see a one-time exposure and assume the worst. It is necessary in these nonproduction type jobs to have an accurate profile of the tasks and their demands based on multiple observation periods. A report is generated that details the various on-site work sampling activities as well as a risk profile for the major body parts: hand & wrist, elbow, shoulder, back, neck, and legs.

Like the STEER report, the report for corporations in the service, maintenance, and construction fields include engineering, administrative, and work-practice controls that give the corporation options for addressing the ergonomic risk factors inherent in the job. The controls range from short-term quick fixes to longer-term staffing and exposure control strategies.

OSHA Compliance

ErgExperts can work with your organization to ensure that you are in compliance with OSHA's ergonomic guidelines. ErgExperts has been involved in the design, setup, workstation & job evaluation, control development, medical management, and the ergonomic training elements of a corporate ergonomics program in response to various OSHA citations. ErgExperts personnel can review your existing program (see Corporate Ergonomic Program Development) or develop one that will meet or exceed OSHA's guidelines.