Accidents, Human Errors and Safety - Human Factors and Ergonomics - page 340

Operator leaning out of cabs while traveling Violation Design/Training

Insufficient warning to people behind haulers while backing Slip Design

Instability prevents effective use of fire extinguishers Mistake Design

Incorrect operation of machine controls Mistake Training/Design

Tires not maintained according to accepted practice Mistake Training

Examples from study by Conway et al. (1981).

blame for accidents and poor quality falls on poor design, procedures, and training, and,
in the end, poor management. Environments must be designed for human beings, taking
into account all their vulnerabilities and competencies—if not, the system is not
appropriately designed.

18.7 ERGONOMICS FOR PRODUCTIVITY, SAFETY, HEALTH,
AND COMFORT

In many industries ergonomics is implemented as a means for reducing high injury rates
and high insurance premiums. In the U.S., a construction worker's compensation
insurance premiums can amount to 15% of the salary. This is because there are many
back injuries due to materials handling and injuries to the joints in the arms, shoulders,
and neck. During the past 5 years many injuries due to cumulative trauma disorders,
carpal tunnel syndrome, and tenosynovitis have been reported. At the same time, the
number of back injuries remains high, and is still the main cause of industrial injury. It is
estimated that the annual cost of musculoskeletal disease in the U.S. exceeds U.S. $50
billion per year (National Research Council, 2001).
While the reduction of injuries and improved health of workers are important reasons
for implementing ergonomics, to the management it may be a negative issue.
Management is forced to implement safety legislation, and many mangers view this just
as another chore imposed by government. I am concerned that the negative message
dominates, and industry leaders ignore a more important driving factor for ergonomics—
namely, increases in productivity, and satisfaction. Ergonomic improvements in
workstations, industrial processes, and product design can be undertaken for the sake of
enhancing productivity, and there can be tremendous benefits. Management often do not
understand how poor working conditions can decrease productivity. Workers in plants
and in offices usually adapt and don't complain, but the cost is increased production time,
lower quality, and of course, increased injury rate. The case study in Chapter 2 clearly
illustrates the potential of ergonomics to improve productivity.
Human factors and ergonomics are highly related to industrial safety. If workers can
perceive hazards, if there are relevant warning signs, if controls are easy to use, if work
postures are acceptable, if noise and other environmental stressors are reduced, if there is
collaboration between workers and management based on mutual understandings, and if
there is good housekeeping, then safety will improve. Ergonomics safety measures focus
on the operator and are different from the conventional approach taken in industrial
safety. Ergonomics can improve safety through worker's attitudes, perception, decision-
making, and risk-taking behavior.