An engineering company reported that a number of workers were reporting musculoskeletal pain in the back and shoulders.
An ergonomic evaluation and assessment was undertaken, qunatitative risk assessment tools were used. It was discovered that the work carried out was dynamic which involved moving things around, and it was the actual physical task of moving heavy objects around was the cause of physical discomfort and pain.
An apt solution suggested that supervisors should be trained in how to undertake ergonomic risk assessments, and motivate them to contribute to the ergonomic program so that the program would have the best chance of succeeding.
This is an example of a participative approach to ergonomics.
