The 30-Inch View

The Key to Sustainability is in the Process

Last week, we attended the National Association of EHS Managers (NAEM) Forum in Memphis. NAEM has recently expanded their focus beyond environmental to include health and safety as well.

NAEM has also recently launched a new blog, The Green Tie. In a recent post, Frank Brandauer comments on the rise of the word "sustainable" and asks EHS managers to explore how sustainable their company's EHS programs really are.

We think his points are spot on and give rise to some additional thoughts:

Sustainability vs. sustainability. Today in Environmental Management, the term Sustainability is commonly used within the profession to denote the environmental aspects of an organization and their impact on business, product and energy (as Frank points out). This is a significant evolution in Environmental Management since it's formal introduction via the formation of the EPA. In the early days, environmental programs focused on compliance. Today it is a critical component of a business.

On the other hand, EHS managers, safety managers and many program/process managers use the term "sustainability" (small "s") to describe and promote the ongoing managment and results of their program/process. In my early days of EHS management (early 80's) we were in the "Comply or Die" mode when the fear of being cited drove deployment. Unfortunately, many initiatives were rolled out without planned maintenance or sponsorship. The resulting cycle of initial fanfare, deployment, then fading resulted in EHS programs being referred to as "the flavor of the month" (along with HR, Quality, and Production initiatives, maybe all initiatives for that matter).

Today, with the prevalence of Continuous Improvement, Toyota Production System, and TMP, we are a lot smarter. EHS managers' focus to maintain compliance continues, as it is the foundation of any EHS program. However, savvy managers and professionals know that these programs must be managed as a process (on-going, owned by many) not as programs (event driven, owned by the EHS department). Aligning EHS programs with the familiar process used for continuous improvement and leveraging other functions and departments are two key elements for success and sustainability.

Sustainability with a small "s" means the program is:

• managed as a process
• owned by many
• on-going despite personnel and business initiative changes
• measured using proactive metrics
• valued by top management.

At Humantech, many of our client partners have evolved their ergonomics program from a list of elements (ex. the OSHA Meatpacking Guidelines) to an Ergonomic Improvement Process or Ergonomic Management System. As with any rollout, there is a need to invest a level of resources to launch the process and maintain momentum. However, once the process is deployed, people are confident and capable in their respective roles, and management understands, monitors and tracks progress, then the level of resources drops off while the value continues to rise.

Frank's rhetorical question, 'is your program prepared for sustainability during tough economic times', is one that every EHS manager should consider. Our experience is that established and effective ergonomic improvement processes survive tough economic times and these lessons can surely be applied to all aspects of your EHS program.

A REAL Ergonomic Solution...

The creation and explanation of an Ergonomic Culture is an interesting stretch (see article in OHS Online).  It is a good example of non-professionals twisting the definition and application of ergonomics to meet a specific agenda. This is one of many examples of how people take the definition of ergonomics and expand or change it to include things it is not. While these applications may seem more palatable and/or easier to implement than actually changing the workplace (for example; methods to change behavior, teaching people to lift, stretching, or applying martial arts principles, etc.), they fail to address the root cause of the problem. Unfortunately these creative interpretations reinforce the public's misunderstanding of ergonomics and ergonomic principles.

Occupational ergonomics has been defined by NIOSH as "...designing the workplace and job demands to fit the capabilities of the working population." Webster defines it as "an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely." Both clearly suggest that ergonomics is an engineering discipline aimed at the environment, not the people in the environment. In other words, ergonomics changes the work environment to improve how someone performs, rather than changing the way someone works in order to improve their performance.

The author of the above mentioned article indicates that one benefit of improved ergonomics is the reduction of risk factors that contribute to musculoskelatal injuries, but that isn't the only benefit. Improving ergonomics, the fit of the workplace to the person, also improves comfort, eliminates non-value added motion, and removes barriers to performance, to name a few. The single purpose view of injury reduction is another limited paradigm that is continually repeated to the public and this further influences an already flawed understanding of ergonomics as an improvement tool.

The article contained a number of interesting bits of jargon that may cloud the issue as well:

• "Ergonomic Behaviors" - isn't this really just good or bad work practices?
• "Ergonomic Injuries" - aren't these injuries the result of exposure to poor ergonomic conditions?
• "Ergonomic Culture" - isn't this really a description of change management or another term for the safety culture of an organization?

Just slapping the word ergonomic on something doesn't create something new. Proper integration of ergonomics into the quality and continuous improvement culture/process is where workplace changes really happen and performance barriers are removed and prevented. Unfortunately, occupational ergonomics continues to suffer from misinterpretation and malpractice. It has become the bandwagon for new gimmicks and methods that sound good but lack validity (ex. back belts, magnetic bracelets, stretching software, etc.).

Employers beware! Ensure the advice, direction and methods you use are valid (based on research) and effective.  Ensure your advisor is a qualified professional ergonomist (i.e. education and certification). Just as you would turn to a Certified Public Accountant or a Board Certified Physician, make sure you are turning to a qualified source of assistance with safety, engineering and ergonomic issues (CSP, PE, and CPE respectively).

Employee Engagement is Critical for Change

A recent article on change management in Industry Week (Lean Persuasion) and a subsequent post at Be Excellent (Introducing Change into your Organization) discuss Lean Expert Jamie Flinchbaugh's suggestions on how to introduce Lean, or other initiatives, to your organization.

The base supposition that employees are resistant to change may be flawed. Actually, most people are naturally resistant to change when the change is made to them, not by them. A key element for successful change is to include people in the process.

Our experience with changing processes (i.e. Lean), altering the workplace and work practices, or changing attitudes and behaviors, has shown that success is primarily dependent upon employee engagement. When people have been included as part of the process that identifies the need for change and are involved in selecting and implementing the necessary actions, they are supportive and many times passionate about change. In turn, they are the best change agents for others.

Planning, communication and ensuring staff are all important. Employee engagement is critical.

Ergonomics in the Virtual World

Ergonomics is so essential that even game designers are building it into their virtual worlds...

Here's a review from the Weapons Locker column at ign.com:

"The Beam Katana has often been compared to a lightsaber; however, the Beam Katana is different in several subtle, but fundamental ways. While the core feature of both is a concentrated energy beam capable of slicing through any material known to man, the Beam Katana uses an energy loop as to a standalone beam... (the) first Beam Katana was the Blood Berry, which is a no-frills mainline model made more readily available to the general public. The Blood Berry consists of the standard handle base, a horizontal handle for added ergonomics and stability, a pointed extendable receiver, and a guide bar that runs parallel to the beam."

Obviously a well-designed weapon that let's you fight all day long!

Optimizing an Aging Workforce: Q&A

Recently, we hosted a webinar on The Future of Manufacturing: Optimizing an Aging Workforce (Click HERE to download a recording). The discussion was led by our CEO, Franz Schneider.

Due to limitations on time, we weren't able to get to all of the questions. Instead of answering them privately, we thought it would be a good idea to share these thoughts with all of you.

Q:My question is in regards to shift work and what is best for the aging worker. Please advise regarding shift rotation (backward or forward), the best hours for work, and the length of a work shift?

A: As people age (past 45), they often show a reduced tolerance to shift and night work. In general, women suffer more than men from symptoms of shift work intolerance. Although long-term prospective studies on aging are few, shift workers over 40-45 years of age reported sleeping worse after night shifts, but not morning shifts. Due to the dearth of data, one then can only extrapolate from the physiological trends of the younger workforce and make suppositions as to the older workforce.

1. Phase forward shift rotation is preferred for all age groups and is therefore preferable for the older worker.
2. Periods of work over 8 hours are to be avoided for all workgroups.
3. Rapid rota shift work is sometimes advocated for younger workers so that they might have more family contact. Given that many older workers either have children that take care of themselves (to a degree) or are no longer at home, the physiological benefit of extended shift durations should be favored.

The preferred shift schedule that optimizes physiological and social factors for the aging worker is an extended rota (4 to 8 weeks in duration), phase forward, with work periods no longer than 8 hours.

Have a quesion on the aging workforce? Email me at kbossey@humantech.com or comment below.

Is it Ergonomics?

When you slap the word "ergonomic" on your product, how much pricing power do you think it provides you?

There are certainly REAL products that deliver REAL ergonomic benefits to the user, but it seems more and more that the word ergonomic is just synonymous with expensive.

For example, here's something from the folks over at Planet Shoes

Camper: Where Trendy Form Meets Smart Function

"While Camper holds true to its origins in comfort and durability, a number of their pairs put fashion forward and can keep up with the trendiest designers out there. A great example, the Camper Twins Paint - a charming pair of shoeties, or are they boot shoes?

These patent leather confections answer the trend of today with classis black and white styling. An elegant 3 inch heel and an ergonomic sole mean you'll look gorgeous and feel comfortable - the ultimate combination!"

How about the "ergo-gun" from TechLime:

Yes, it's a real gun and it's called the "Palm Pistol" and its specifically designed to offer "An Ergonomically Alternative Way to Shoot Someone."

Over at CrunchGear, we learn of the monitor (the NEC Multi-Sync EA241WM)  with four-way ergonomic capabilities (height, swivel, tilt, pivot).

And finally, in a nod to the completely absurd, from Daily Nexus comes  a discussion on the ergonomic qualities of the bong:

"Also, consider the ergonomics of the piece. The classic, straight, tube style bongs will be knocked over easily due to a small base and a high center of gravity. Beaker bottoms (cone shaped) are most stable due to large bases and low center of gravity. Hold the piece in your hand. Does it feel weighted right? You don't want a piece that is awkward to pass or too big to fit in your lap. Those qualities are what get bongs dropped. Don't forget to consider the functionality of any artwork on the piece. I'm sure that seven-inch dragon's wing sticking off the base looked real cool right up until it hitched a ride on your friend's sweatshirt, sending it plunging to the floor"

Good advice, I'm sure. But is it ergonomics?