Participatory Ergonomics - “ A Broader Reach ” -

1. Participatory Ergonomics- “A Broader Reach” - The Regulatory Craft Conference - November 20, 2007 - D. Darren MacDonald, CPE Ergonomics Process Leader

2. Agenda for Today • Background Information • Participatory Ergonomics • Methods and Process • Advantages and Disadvantages • Questions & Discussion

3. Background • Scientific literature on PE has grown significantly over the past two decades

4. How bad are MSIs? % of Time Loss Injuries Over 60%

5. What is Participatory Ergonomics? • Participatory Ergonomics is an employee driven approach focused to ensure good design, comfort, safety and health.

6. What is Participatory Ergonomics? It has be defined as, • “the involvement of people in planning and controlling a significant amount of their own work activities, • with sufficient knowledge and power to influence both processes and outcomes in order to achieve desirable goals.”

7. Human-task-environment model • This human-task-environment model is a useful reminder of the potential influences on performance and demonstrates the systems nature of ergonomics.

8. Prevention Model Increase awareness & knowledge Promote attitude & behaviour change Improved Outcomes Support adoption of best practices

9. Injury Continuum

10. Hand working height

11. Heavy lifting and carrying

12. PARTICIPATORYERGONOMICS The Regulatory Craft Conference - November 20, 2007 -

13. Why use PE? • Have an impact on a greater number of jobs and employees • Helps address the Ergonomist shortage • It just makes sense!

14. PE in Nova Scotia • Resources and Support • Ergonomics Team Formation • Training Elements • Workplace Organizational Factors • Including Workforce in Ergonomics

15. Resources and Support • Sr. Management support • Time allocated for development • Time set aside for ongoing activity • Financial resources supplied to team

16. Ergonomics Team Formation • 6-12 employee (cross functional) • engineering/maintenance support • team champion

17. Training Elements • Injury causation • Risk factor identification • Root cause analysis • Brainstorming techniques • Interviewing skills

18. Workplace Organizational Factors • Timing can be very critical • Integration with existing processes • Separate from OH&S committee, but have a reporting role • Strong communication prior, during and after the event

19. Including Workforce in Ergonomics • Peer to peer evaluations • Peer explanation of process • Important to implement any ideas obtained from the shop floor first

20. METHODS andPROCESS The Regulatory Craft Conference - November 20, 2007 -

21. Nova Scotia Model • 2-Day Participatory Event • 1/2 Day - Training • 1/2 Day - Hazard Identification • 1/2 Day - Implementation • 1/2 Day - Presenting progress and plans

22. Follow up • Prevention Consultant • 2 month • 6 month • 1 year • Using progress indicators

23. ADVANTAGESandDISADVANTAGES The Regulatory Craft Conference - November 20, 2007 -

24. Advantages • Greater feeling of “ownership” • Increased job satisfaction • Greater commitment to change • Workers are the experts

25. Advantages - cont • PE will lead to more acceptable solutions • Faster learning because of involvement in the process • Systemic effect to other areas and processes of an organization

26. Disadvantages • Participation can be difficult to promote (at any level) • Org structure may limit involvement • Top management commitment may be difficult to obtain • Cost may increase as more time and effort may be required for some solutions

27. Challenges for Participatory Ergo • Motivate people to be involved • Tools & techniques used • Understanding how to work within their scope • When to call in outside resources

28. Questions?

29. Prevention Services D.Darren MacDonald, CPE Ergonomics Process Leader 902.565.7114 (mobile) darren.macdonald@wcb.gov.ns.ca www.wcb.ns.ca