Risk-Assessment on Use of Adjustable Workstations
The purchasing department should start providing adjustable height work stations for the shipping department to use. Although, this cost twice as much as the non-adjustable ones this would bring long term savings and benefits to the company. The provision of work – adjustable workstations would decrease the risk of having employees suffer for mucoskeletal disorders as evidenced by several studies conducted on the causes of this type of ergonomics related disorder. This is due to the reduction of stresses and awkward postures of the employees while performing their tasks.
This also paves way to the compliance of the company to the ergonomics guidelines whose additional requirement for companies is to provide Ergonomics Program. (OSHA, 2013)
Steve Welch, the CEO of ToddPacificShipyard has been quoted saying “Due to ergonomic improvements our accident rate from 5 years ago is down about 80%.In addition, we have been consistently profitable in the shipyard for 4 years.” (OSHA, 2013) The provision of adjustable workstations increases the productivity or profitability of the company as they realized decreased in absences of employees due to ergonomic related illnesses of accidents in addition to the reduced costs of worker’ compensation claims. (HumanScale, 2012)
Furthermore, an increased time-on-task could be realized by the company adding to the production benefits as distractions (like stretching or resting a little due to backpain) is reduced.
The use of adjustable workstations may be costly at first but if its benefits are to be measured, it the company will realized that it is a move towards a more profitable company.
References:
HumanScale (2012). Economics of Ergonomics. Retrieved from http://www.humanscale.com/form_function/economics_of_ergonomics.cfm
OSHA (2013). Shipyard Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/shipyard-guidelines.html
