Initiating an innovative change process for improved working conditions and ergonomics with participation and performance feedback: A case study in an engineering workshop

Abstract The objective was to determine the effects of management involvement, workers' participation and performance feedback on the implementation of an extensive development project aiming at both changes in behaviour and technical improvements in working methods. The study was conducted in all of the eleven departments of a middle-size engineering workshop. The average industrial housekeeping index increased from 57 to 89%. Numerous technical innovations of the employees were realized by the project teams. Both the management's commitment to safety and the workers' participation in safety improved. Relevance to industry The behaviour modification programme focusing on industrial housekeeping makes it possible to improve safety and ergonomics, and at the same time productivity.