Five Critical Elements for Managing an Ergonomics Program

The long-term success of a company’s ergonomics program is dependent upon a well-established foundation endorsed by leadership. Too many organizations have launched an ergonomics program without a strong foundation, only to have it “fizzle” when the business climate and direction change, or when key leaders change. Failure to start a program effectively results in loss of credibility and trust by employees and management, and wasted resources. We’ve identified key elements of successful and sustained ergonomics programs and summarize the top five in this paper. The findings are derived from over 30 years of Humantech experience, assisting a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies in establishing and improving the ergonomics of their workplaces. In addition, we’ve drawn from current research and five comprehensive benchmarking studies (Humantech 2011).

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