| U.S. industry is headed toward a workforce crisis | | | | industry. Budnick said ergonomics is "essential in an |
| that will require critical changes in our national | | | | effective continuous improvement system" in any |
| paradigm. Our workforce is not only declining in | | | | business or industry. |
| numbers, it is becoming increasingly multicultural. | | | | Ergonomics takes a human-centered approach to |
| Even more challenging is the fact that workers | | | | task and tool design. It recognizes differences in |
| now entering the workforce expect greater | | | | the individual characteristics and capabilities of |
| challenge and greater rewards from their jobs | | | | workers and strives to accommodate those |
| than their predecessors. In the keynote speech at | | | | variables into the design of equipment and the |
| last summer's Material Handling and Logistics | | | | structuring of tasks. In effect, ergonomics works |
| Summit, Benoit Montreuil, president of the College | | | | to fit the task or equipment to the worker |
| Industry Council on Material Handling Education, | | | | instead of unenlightened approach of forcing the |
| warned that long-term solutions to the pending | | | | worker to try to adapt to the task. The goal of |
| workforce crisis will require American industry to | | | | ergonomics is to prevent soft tissue, repetitive |
| adjust its attitude toward its workforce and | | | | motion, repetitive stress and musculoskeletal |
| develop new programs to protect the health and | | | | injuries. Nearly half of all lost work days can be |
| safety of that workforce. | | | | attributed to musculoskeletal injuries. These |
| Montreuil believes the crisis facing labor-intensive | | | | injuries cost U.S. industry more than $61 billion per |
| U.S. industries is threefold: | | | | year in lost productivity and an additional $20 billion |
| 1. America's workforce is shrinking. As Baby | | | | in annual medical, insurance and workers |
| Boomers retire, there will be fewer workers to | | | | compensation costs. |
| replace them. Industry must move to protect the | | | | The value of respecting workers has been proven |
| health and safety of a smaller workforce. | | | | time and again. Toyota is one of several |
| 2. The next generation of technology-savvy | | | | international corporations that has made |
| American workers is gravitating toward more | | | | ergonomics a pillar of its business execution plan. |
| challenging white collar jobs. Most labor jobs are | | | | When workers are valued, productivity, product |
| perceived to be dull, entry-level jobs requiring little | | | | quality and customer service ratings increase |
| skill. Industry must focus on improved automation | | | | dramatically while injuries, absenteeism and |
| and technology that will provide more challenging, | | | | workplace negativity decrease significantly. |
| more varied and safer work environments. | | | | Implementation of an ergonomics program |
| 3. Labor jobs have traditionally existed on the | | | | demonstrates respect for workers and indicates |
| bottom-rung of the pay scale. New workers | | | | that their health and safety is a primary |
| expect good pay and comprehensive benefits. In | | | | corporate concern. |
| the past, many businesses have skirted this issue | | | | In formulating an ergonomics program, tasks, |
| by either outsourcing labor jobs to foreign | | | | equipment and the work environment should be |
| countries or hiring migrant workers. However, | | | | evaluated for the following factors: |
| rising transportation and fuel costs coupled with | | | | 1. amount and angle of force applied during task |
| increasing overseas pay scales have caused U.S. | | | | performance |
| companies to re-evaluate the advantages of | | | | 2. velocity of movement required to perform |
| returning production to the U.S. In addition, the | | | | task |
| current economic downturn has sent immigrants | | | | 3. awkward or fatiguing postures required during |
| packing with declining immigration rates expected | | | | task performance |
| to continue until the recession ends. | | | | 4. repetition or frequency of task |
| The implementation of ergonomic practices and | | | | 5. duration of task and number of times per day |
| installation of ergonomic equipment could become | | | | it must be performed |
| a powerful tool in industry's fight to attract and | | | | 6. vibration worker is subjected to during task |
| maintain a viable workforce. A proactive attitude | | | | performance |
| toward ergonomics demonstrates value and | | | | 7. contact pressure that must be maintained |
| respect for workers, Peter Budnick, Ph.D., told | | | | during task performance |
| attendees of a recent material handling | | | | 8. environmental factors present in work |
| conference. The founder, president and CEO of | | | | environment, including lighting, temperature, noise, |
| Core 3, Ergoweb and Ergobuyer said, "A well | | | | etc. |
| formulated ergonomics strategy supports and | | | | The goal of ergonomics is to eliminate the |
| accelerates continuous improvement in any | | | | discomfort and stress these factors cause |
| organization, facility or supply chain." | | | | workers. Studies prove that implementation of an |
| Integration of ergonomic practices and equipment | | | | ergonomic program results in significant decreases |
| into manufacturing and business operations | | | | in injury rates and associated costs, decreases in |
| improves productivity, quality control, waste | | | | lost man-hours and absenteeism and a marked |
| reduction and safety. Ergonomics can | | | | improvement in worker job satisfaction. With a |
| "operationalize" a company's respect for its | | | | general one-year turnaround on investment |
| workers, said Budnick. He postulated that many | | | | recovery, the implementation of a comprehensive |
| companies fail to recognize the value of | | | | ergonomics program could be the most |
| ergonomics because they misunderstand the | | | | cost-effective answer to American industry's |
| concept and its potential application to their | | | | looming workforce crisis. |