Geography / All / Source: / IWH
PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST
BENEFITS
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) have become a leading source of workers’ comp claims and lost-work days. And many MSIs are caused by ergonomics-related hazards, such as poorly organized work stations and improper lifting techniques. So it’s important that employers take appropriate steps to address such hazards and protect workers from developing MSIs. One way is through a participatory ergonomics program.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
This checklist can help walk you through the various steps in implementing an effective participatory ergonomics program in your workplace and tracking your progress through these steps. It’s based on the Institute for Work & Health’s Participative Ergonomic Blueprint, which spells out each step in detail. Consult the Blueprint when using this checklist.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Institute for Work & Health’s Participative Ergonomic Blueprint
MSI Risk Factors Toolbox Talk Handout
PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST
YES / NO / COMMENTSErgonomics Process: Establish Management Support
Senior management supports ergonomics program in word and deed
People in the organization are aware of and support the goals and scope of the ergonomics program
Form an Ergonomics Change Team
The ergonomics program has participation from all appropriate areas of the organization
The activities of the Ergonomics Change Team reflect a participatory approach to change
An ergonomics champion is part of the Ergonomics Change Team
Initiate Basic Training/Education
The Ergonomics Change Team has received initial training/ergonomics education
Identify Opportunities for Improvement
Routine (monthly or quarterly) reviews of workers’ comp files for patterns and trends of claims for MSIs are conducted
Claims data, reported by job or process area, are collected
Incidence and severity, expressed as a rate, is done
Jobs or process areas with high incidence of injury, frequencies and/or costs can be clearly identified
Routine (monthly or quarterly) reviews of first aid and medical files for patterns and trends of MSIs are conducted
The organization actively and routinely solicits input from workers about discomfort related to their job using oral reports or discomfort diagrams
Risk Factor Identification
An appropriate checklist has been chosen and used consistently by trained individuals
An assessment of each job/task/process exists
Integration of Health and Risk Factor Information
Risk factors and health information are routinely used to prioritize jobs
New jobs, modified jobs and jobs with altered equipment/tools are assessed within three months
Assess Ergonomics Risk Factors and Prioritize Jobs for Improvement
Clear identification of root causes for ergonomics problems are made
There’s a decreasing backlog of assessments
There are few jobs yet to be assessed
A thorough analysis of the concern, with documentation on tasks and associated forces, postures, frequencies, energy cost, illumination (as appropriate) and a diagram of site, is provided to help with diagnostic information for change
Appropriate tools are used, which provide a rating/quantification of the hazard
A formal, agreed-upon approach is used to prioritize jobs
Prioritization uses other indicators of poor ergonomics quality, such as quality, scrap, turnover, slips and falls
Prioritization uses medical information such as injury reports or discomfort surveys
Prioritized list is up-to-date with clear indication of stage of solution process and persons responsible
Solution Building
All appropriate people in the organization are involved
A formal agreed upon process for developing, analyzing and implementing solutions exists
Solutions to problems from other areas of the organization are available to the group
Solutions have engineering involvement and support
A full range of engineering solutions from quick fixes to automation are considered
Limits of administrative controls are understood and such controls are used appropriately
Engineering controls are sought for long-term solutions
Ongoing resources are available for small changes
Prototype Implementation
Workers, supervisors, engineering staff know of and understand the purpose of the trial
Enough training/familiarization/removal of production constraints has been conducted to enable a fair trial of prototypes
Planned follow up of all prototype solutions
Prototype Evaluation
There’s systemic use of discomfort/ergonomics assessment tools/interviews
Evaluation of appropriate ergonomics issues, such as posture, reach, muscle activation, musculoskeletal loads, vision, illumination, vibration, comfort, worker preference, etc., is conducted
Appropriate and widely accepted measures of ergonomics quality of new designs are used
Solution Implementation
Workers, supervisors, engineering staff know and agree to the purpose and rationale for the adoption of the solution
Training and familiarization with the solution are available
Allowances and resources are available for fine-tuning under full production situations
There are frequent and routine assessments to judge effectiveness and to avoid additional ergonomics or other problems
Prevention of Ergonomics Problems
Relevant departments have identified opportunities available through ergonomics, such as purchasing guidelines, etc.
All new or redesigned jobs, tools or equipment are reviewed to identify potential ergonomics problems
The design of a product or process is always evaluated for its ergonomics consequences
Designers and engineers are aware of organizational design guidelines
People are a primary design consideration
The design process incorporates ergonomics aspects in conceptualization, preliminary design, procurement, construction, start-up and maintenance
Designers have information in a convenient form and tools available to judge the ergonomics consequences of their decisions
Reactive ergonomics fixes are decreased because the philosophy is to do it right the first time
Solutions to problems from other areas and current processes in the organization are available
Health & Safety Process: Participation and Consultation
The ergonomics program has participation from all appropriate areas of the organization
The activities of the Ergonomics Change Team is known and supported by staff
Management Support of Ergonomic and Resources
Senior management support for the ergonomics program has been demonstrated to managers, supervisors and staff by word and deed
Corporate Ergonomics Policy
A long-term vision for ergonomics has been created as a written corporate ergonomics policy
The corporate ergonomics policy is supported and disseminated by top corporate and site management
The policy recognizes health and safety, regulatory and business issues
The policy has reactive and proactive components
Education and Training
Employees at all levels can provide a description of the goals and concepts of ergonomics citing relevant examples
Ergonomics is highlighted in organizational publications
Ergonomics is a regular topic at health and safety meetings
Employees at all levels are aware of the classic ergonomics risk factors and how to minimize their impact
Managers and supervisors have received training on the goals and concepts of ergonomics and the implications of ergonomics for jobs in their area
Senior management support for the ergonomics program has been demonstrated to managers and supervisors by word and deed, including attending and participating in training and education sessions
The Ergonomics Change Team has received initial training and periodic updates and refresher training
The Ergonomics Change Team is allowed to attend corporate and outside meetings to present their work and network with other such teams
Training has included both technical aspects (risk identification) and managerial aspects (planning, etc.)
The organization has access to ergonomics experts, who can apply ergonomics to all aspects of human health and performance
The organization has access (internally or externally) to advanced assessment tools for assessing jobs and new designs where the expertise or experience of the Ergonomics Change Team is insufficient
Ergonomics Program Management
There’s a specific detailed list of work activities for the Ergonomics Change Team for the next period, including prioritized jobs
Necessary staff and financial support has been approved and is available
Outside support is approved and available for assessing jobs and new designs where the expertise or experience of the Ergonomics Change Team is insufficient
The plan is closely followed
The Ergonomics Change Team has routinelyscheduled meetings and members attend routinely and actively
There’s a sign-off procedure for implementing solutions and removing them from the “action” list
Additional staff can attend the meetings for their specific input
The Ergonomics Change Team reports to the JHSC and submits quarterly reports to the committee
A senior management sponsor or champion meets with the committee
A list of prioritized problem jobs, with action items, timelines and individuals responsible, is maintained
Built-in Evaluation/Audit Process
A clear pattern of control of injuries and disorders and other indicators such as quality is evident
Prevention of risk to health and degradation of performance is well-established both proactively and reactively
The ergonomics program has been routinely found to improve business performance (quality, reduced injury rates)
Walk-through audits for jobs with ergonomics problems are routine
Documentation
Documentation supports program evaluation, compliance assurance and program management
Ergonomics Tools, Techniques and Skills
Designers have available information and tools (methods, software and training) to judge the ergonomics consequences of their decisions
Ergonomics Change Team members have appropriate tools to identify root causes of problems
Medical Management
The Ergonomics Change Team has involvement with healthcare professionals and RTW programs
The responsibilities of the Ergonomics Change Team are clearly laid out in RTW issues
Compliance Assurance
Documentation that demonstrates compliance with legislated ergonomics programs is available for inspection and up-to-date
Completed by:______
Completed on:______
This tool and hundreds more available in the OHS Toolbox at . Templates and tools from OHS Insider are provided for members of our service. Members may use this document as is or as a starting point to customize their own documents. OHS Insider assumes no responsibility for the effectiveness or legality of any of its online templates or tools. Always consult your legal counsel and management before implementing any new policies or procedures.