Reducing and Eliminating Workplace Injuries through Ergonomics

Course Description

Many companies today are using “ergonomics,” or the study of work, when designing workspaces that will prevent injuries and strains, as well as other disorders.  Repetitive tasks, increased needs for quick production and the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries are all factors that contribute to the rising costs of workers’ compensation payouts.   Estimates indicate that employers spend as much as $20 billion a year on direct costs of musculoskeletal disorder-related workers’ compensation cases, and up to five times that amount for indirect costs, or costs associated with hiring and training replacement workers. [1] Studies have shown that employees involved in ergonomic programs tend to feel better, feel valued by their employers and are more efficient in their work as a result.  The Washington State Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that every ergonomics program studied either increased productivity or reduced injuries; the outcome was a decrease in costs to the employer and, in turn, reduced the injury levels to “zero.”  [2] This course will offer suggestions for completing a successful, comprehensive and useful ergonomics assessment that will focus on preventing musculoskeletal injuries by effectively analyzing job hazards, identifying and evaluating risk factors and offering recommendations to reduce or eliminate these risks within the workplace environment.