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The Rise of Shop Floor Ergonomics: A Personal Perspective
1Dan MacLeod LLC, Milford, PA, USA.
IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors
|August 20, 2020
Summary
This memoir details the integration of industrial ergonomics into North American workplaces, empowering workers to address early work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders through practical, low-tech improvements for lasting change.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Industrial Ergonomics
- Workplace Safety
Background:
- Industrial ergonomics adoption in North America.
- Early prevention of work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs).
- The role of ordinary workers in safety initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a personal account of industrial ergonomics implementation on the shop floor.
- To highlight the effectiveness of low-tech, practical improvement processes.
- To encourage confidence in initiating change and tackling new endeavors.
Main Methods:
- Personal memoir based on a 45-year career in industrial ergonomics.
- Description of early efforts to involve workers in preventing WMSDs.
- Documentation of a practical, low-tech improvement process.
Main Results:
- Ergonomics successfully integrated into shop floor practices.
- Workers actively participated in preventing previously unrecognized WMSDs.
- A sustainable, low-tech improvement process was established.
Conclusions:
- Early, practical interventions can lead to significant workplace improvements.
- Worker involvement is crucial for successful ergonomics implementation.
- Small steps can foster confidence and drive major changes in occupational health.
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