CASE STUDY 3

Case 1

1.Summary 

Workers in their construction department perform a number of manual jobs that involve heavy objects. Workers needed to work while being on their knees and bent over assembling machinery parts. A worker assembling parts had to suffer back problems because of working in awkward position for long hours. For the same, the company had to pay 70% more medical compensation to workers in 1978. The reason and risk factors of these workers health issues were lifting and carrying heavy objects weighing around 75 pounds,bending and kneeling of workers for prolonged,workers with hands tools like wrench with awkward wrist position.The hand job was also highly repetitively further risking the workers' wrist. Benefits of these ergonomics initiative showed as a reduced exposure of the workers to back injury risk. Workers compensation cost was also decreased due to fewer cases in injury. 

2.List the ergonomics issues in that workplaces.

• Workers in their construction department perform a number of manual job that involve heavy objects. 
• Using hand tools like a wrench was also being used repetitively and with difficult postures for their wrists.
• Lift a heavy lawn mower  deck to attach it to the tractor.
• They had to kneel while fastening the deck with one hand and also holding it with their other hand.
• Being on their knees and bent over assembling machinery parts.

3. State the consequences that the company had to bear due to the ergonomics issues.

• They revealed a huge amount of lost time and money due to work environment not being ergonomic.
• Escalated workers medical compensation cost 15% per year.
• The company also lost 28% more time due to workers' over-exertion and back strains in 1984.
• The company had to pay a 70% more medical compensation to workers in 1978.

4. State the improvement methods that can be taken by the company to overcome the problems.

• The company initiated some ergonomics programs using NIOSH education for lifting.
• Start an 8 hour ergonomics training program.
• Carried out a review of office furniture and laid down guidelines for new purchases.
• The company must put restrictions on lifting objects manually which were heavier than 40 pounds.
• They redesigned the workstations at assembling plants to workers did not have to bend or kneel.

Case 2

 1. Summary

Another Ergonomics case study is about a large supplier of computer servers, workstations and super-computers called Silicon Graphic Inc. The company has 3,800 workers. Their jobs included, Workers doing office work had to use the computer mouse extensively. Workers at assembly line had to do considerable manual work while handling materials. Workers also had to lift heavy computer systems to pack them into shipping boxes. OSHA reported increasing cases of upper limb disorders during the period between 1991 and 1996. The hazards were identified by increasing cases of CTD related injuries in 1990s, increase in back injuries and a resulting increase in medical costs. Next, the risk is when the workers lifting and carrying of heavy objects and awkward postures while working. So they hired a ergonomics consultant to evaluate the workstations for ergonomic conditions and provided compulsory ergonomic training to their employees and purchased new ergonomic office equipment. Then, all this made their workers less exposed to different types of CTDs. Lastly, this ergonomics program was made successful by the support and funding of the upper management for it.

2.Ergonomics Issues In The Workplace:

• Workers doing office work had to use the computer mouse extensively.
• Workers at assembly line had to do considerable manual work while handling materials.
• Workers also had to lift heavy computer systems to pack them into shipping boxes.
• Increasing cases of upper limb disorders and cause to the back injuries and a resulting increase in medical costs.
• The risk are when the workers lifting and carrying of heavy objects and awkward postures while working 

3. The Consequences That The Company Had To Bear Due To The Ergonomics Issue:

Increase in back injuries and a resulting increase in medical costs:

• The workplaces are not suitable or ergonomic for their workers and their company has to produce very high medical costs to their employees.

4.The Improvement Methods That Can Be Taken By The Company To Overcome The Problems:

The company hired a ergonomics consultant to evaluate the workstations for ergonomic conditions and provided compulsory ergonomic training to their employees and purchased new ergonomic office equipment for the convenience of workers in the workplace.