In yesterday’s Advisor, consultant Bridget Miller provided tips for employers regarding the ergonomic conditions of the workplace; today, more considerations for businesses, including questions to ask while conducting an ergonomic assessment.
 |
- Task assistance levels. Tools and equipment should be provided that assist in physical tasks that could cause injury. Forklifts, carts, belts (to prevent back strain), and ladders are some simple examples.
- Ambient environment. Workplaces should be assessed for factors like noise, temperature, and vibration—these can all affect employees over time.
- Task assessment. Regular work tasks should be assessed to ensure they do not require awkward movements or positions.
- Integration with illness and injury prevention plan (IIPP). Employers that have implemented an IIPP can incorporate repetitive motion and other musculoskeletal injury prevention—including ergonomic assessments and adjustments—into the plan.
Injury reporting mechanisms. Employers can encourage employees to report potentially hazardous processes or work environments so that they can be fixed. Give them a way to easily do so without fear of negative repercussions.
Need insight into how technology is taking over HR? Start on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, with a free interactive webcast, HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond. Learn More
Additionally, here are some questions to ask:
- Does the work environment allow adequate breaks and opportunities to switch positions or tasks?
- Does the work culture promote cross-training to get employees out of repetitive motion tasks more often?
- Are there processes in place to encourage employees to report injuries? Reporting injuries—even those that are not acute, such as repetitive motion injuries—can be an important factor in reducing them in the future. Treating a musculoskeletal injury sooner can decrease its severity as well.
- Are managers on board with the idea of preventing workplace injury through a thorough ergonomic assessment?
Many employers opt to adopt their own ergonomics standards for each role in the organization. Some have added ergonomic assessment and adjustments into the employee’s first days on the job. Where does your organization stand on ergonomic assessments?
Of course, while the physical workspace is important, you can’t forget about how technology is impacting your business. From new software to automated systems to online tools, technology is taking over—and the field of HR is no exception. To stay competitive, you need to stay informed; fortunately, there’s timely help in the form of a new webcast—HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond. In just 60 minutes, you’ll learn everything you need to know about our recent research into the growing effect of technology on HR functions—and the trends that may be guiding your peers and competitors.
Register today for this free (thanks to sponsor BambooHR) interactive webcast.
Tech advances wait for no one—ensure you’re in the know. Join us for a free interactive webcast, HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond. Register Now
By participating in this interactive webcast, you’ll learn real-world answers to the following questions:
- How extensive is the use of HR technology?
- How effective is technology at managing HR challenges?
- How far do professionals trust technology to make HR decisions?
- Where is technology MOST helpful to HR managers?
- Where is technology LEAST helpful to HR managers?
- And much more!
Register now for this webcast.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
1:00 p.m. (Central)
12:00 p.m. (Mountain)
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
Join us on Tuesday, June 23 for the free, in-depth HR Technology Trends: How New Innovations Are Shaping Human Resources in 2015 and Beyond webcast sponsored by BambooHR.