Great Advice on Leading Indicators

The company decided to pursue "participative ergonomics" and designated 100 ergonomic champions and coaches, along with mentorship programs.

I try to learn a few things every day. On Jan. 19, 2017, I learned more than usual from an OH&S Academy webinar presented by Robert Pater, our magazine's longtime Breakthrough Strategies columnist. His topic was "Leading with Ergo Improvement Indicators," and he showed the audience and me how to set up an effective program to prevent soft-tissue injuries.

Few companies take the time to formulate ergonomic leading indicators or monitor other companies' leading indicators, Robert said, adding that "locking the barn door after the horse has escaped" is all too common in U.S. companies' safety management. He recommended taking ongoing small steps to improve and developing "early intelligence" to help develop those steps.

Robert organized his presentation into what he called 3 Fs:

  • Set the Foundation for building ergonomic change
  • Frame the actions
  • Finish—harvest and analyze trailing indicators

He described a program used several years ago by a Canadian client with 4,200 employees that realized 55 percent of its injuries were musculoskeletal injuries. The company decided to pursue what it called "participative ergonomics." It designated 100 ergonomic champions and coaches and created mentorship programs. A key focus of the effort was teaching its workers to self-monitor wherever they are, Robert explained.

Help people think cumulatively and "get the input of everybody you can," he advised. He also gave all of us listeners this nugget: Ask yourself, do we have left-handed people on our safety committees? You should, because left-handers are a disproportionate share of soft-tissue injuries, developed from trying to fit into a world built for right-handers, he said.

This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.

About the Author

Jerry Laws is Editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine, which is owned by 1105 Media Inc.

Product Showcase

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. 3

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. 3

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. 3

Featured

Most   Popular

Webinars