Workplace injuries are disruptive and expensive, and one of the most effective ways to address them is by adopting an ergonomics program. However, companies that want the most bang for their buck can't just implement programs; they must also convince employees to change their behavior.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Nevertheless, this article will give you some practical approaches to help convince workers why ergonomics isn't just good for companies; it's also great for workers.
The benefits of ergonomics for workplace safety and productivity are well-established. For example, the Washington State Department of Labor published a review of over 250 case studies that analyzed the costs and benefits of investing in workplace ergonomics programs.
The findings were impressive, with companies involved in the 250 case studies seeing an average of:
The impact a reduction in the above numbers can have on the productivity and profitability of an organization is undeniable and make a strong argument for why companies should invest in ergonomics.
However, getting companies on board with ergonomics is just the first step. Human nature is to find the path of least resistance, and making changes to poor body mechanics habits takes a significant amount of effort on the part of the employee. Therefore, you must convince workers to change for programs to reduce workplace injuries effectively.
As a safety professional, you are a salesperson selling the value of safety to all members of an organization. To sell that value, you first need to identify what that individual cares about and explain how safety helps them reach their goals.
Your first thought might be that people should want to fix their ergonomics, so they don't get hurt, and that makes sense from the outside. However, for whatever reason, their safety isn't their top priority for some people. Therefore, speaking about safety as only self-preservation might not work for everyone.
Have you ever heard someone say they love their job so much that they would do it for free? Unfortunately, that's not the case for most people. While they may enjoy their work, most people show up daily to earn a living and support themselves, their families, and their passions.
Most of us wouldn't want to and couldn't afford to keep showing up if the paychecks stopped. There are too many financial responsibilities associated with modern life, and workplace injuries can impact a person's ability to make a living.
While workers comp can help lessen that financial impact, most don't understand that it only pays a percentage of their average take-home pay. Therefore, if a worker is seriously injured at work and cannot physically get another job, their earning potential has been significantly reduced. So how will that affect their ability to fulfill their financial responsibilities?
You can also look at workplace injuries from an emotional standpoint. Workplace injuries don't just affect employees but everyone around them. For example, consider the emotional burden and stress a workplace injury would place on a worker's family. How would that affect their lifestyle and interpersonal relationships?
An injury can disrupt the entire dynamic of a family. For example, maybe their spouse is forced to get a second job to make ends meet, or the family has to cancel a vacation because they can't afford it anymore. How about the emotional toll for loved ones, like children, of seeing their father or mother in the hospital or struggling to do the things they used to enjoy?
The fallout that often accompanies workplace injuries is an unfortunate byproduct that most employees may not consider and an excellent area to explore when trying to convince workers to adopt ergonomics.
Many people have passions or hobbies that they love doing outside of work. For instance, let's say a worker treasures spending time with their father fishing on weekends. It could be something they've been doing since childhood and a tradition they hope to carry for many years. However, if that employee hurts their shoulder while at work, will they be able to cast their fishing line on the weekends or be in too much pain?
What about an exercise enthusiast who values physical fitness and goes to the gym daily? If they hurt their knee while at work, will they still be able to compete in the marathon they've been training for the past several months? Workplace injuries don't stay at work; they are insidious and make their way into every aspect of an employee's life.
Sometimes when you speak with workers about injuries, there is a disconnect; the consequences almost don't feel real. They feel like something that could happen to someone else but not to them, particularly if the person you're speaking to has never been seriously injured at work or in their personal lives.
However, when you speak to their priorities like those listed above, they're more likely to recognize the value of safety and connect it to their lives. Now that it feels real, they are more likely to buy into workplace safety and ergonomics for injury prevention.
Now that employees have bought into ergonomics, you need to provide them with high-quality information they can apply immediately. Modern ergonomics solutions, like TuMeke's computer vision joint tracking software, do exactly that.
With TuMeke, machine learning models analyze employee video and create a digital skeleton that changes color depending on the risk experienced during that movement or position. These visuals demonstrate the real-world risk the employee is experiencing and serve as a powerful aid to learner comprehension and retention.
TuMeke has also automated industry-standard ergonomics assessments. These quick and easy assessments mean the company can identify high-risk jobs and body movements and offer advice that workers and their employees can implement immediately to reduce the likelihood of an injury.
Ergonomics programs are a powerful tool in the fight to reduce workplace accidents. However, getting employees to buy in while also leveraging modern ergonomics technology boosts that power to the next level. Click here to learn more about how TuMeke can help create a safer workplace.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out here if you have any questions.
Best,
The TuMeke Ergonomics team