Cargill’s Successful Implementation of a Corporate-Wide Industrial Ergonomics Program

This workshop will address the rollout of a comprehensive ergonomics program for the beef and pork processing business units of Cargill, Inc.  The initial phase of this launch focused on approximately 26,000 thousand employees in 36 plants across the U.S. and Canada.  The scope of this program implementation required an effort that optimized the method of delivery of the ergonomics program within each plant facility. This workshop will provide a review and demonstration of the successful Cargill program, its implementation plan, and its metrics.   Attendees will leave this workshop with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement a large-scale industrial ergonomics program, including:

• A process for standardizing the methodology and program documentation for an ergonomics program across multiple facilities
• A method for collecting key foundational information for all ergonomics activities
• Ways to conduct in-person and web-based training that will realize significant savings over the course of the program implementation
• An analysis of industry and scientifically validated risk assessment methodologies
• A database for integrating ergonomics and return-to-work data.

Ergonomic Strategies for the Aging Work Force

Today, an unprecedented 25% of our work population has reached the age of 65 years or older. Many will continue to work beyond this age. Consequently, employers will be faced with new challenges presented by age-related changes to work capacities. This workshop will address key physiological mechanisms underlying changes that occur with aging, and provide specific ergonomic strategies that can be used to effectively improve safety and productivity with this segment of the workforce. Attendees will learn an integrated approach that includes highly effective ergonomic and wellness interventions specifically targeted to age-related changes and disorders including: slips and falls from impaired balance, eye sight and hearing, degenerative disc disease, reduced strength and coordination, diabetes, and heart disease. The examples used, and lessons learned during this workshop will apply to aging workers across all industries. Attendees will leave this comprehensive workshop with:

• An understanding of the physiological changes that occur with age and methods for improving functional capacities
• The ability to apply effective ergonomic, behavior based, and wellness interventions that will address age-related effects on work capacities and accommodations for age-related diseases.

Successful Implementation of a Site-Wide Healthcare Ergonomics Program

Healthcare work environments are extremely diverse, and so are the ergonomic solutions that are needed in these environments.  The implementation of effective, site-specific ergonomic solutions helps to decrease injuries, increase productivity, improve quality of patient care and patient satisfaction.  This comprehensive workshop will provide the broad knowledge necessary to implement a successful site-wide healthcare ergonomics program, as well as some of the quantitative tools that can be used to assess risk throughout a facility.   A case study approach will be used to review ergonomic solutions for use in virtually every work environment within a healthcare setting, including:

• Radiology and ultrasound
• Microscope and microtome use
• Food and dining services
• Laundry services
• Healthcare information technology  
• Operating rooms
• Clinic settings
• Maintenance and hospital operations
  Pharmacy environments – and more.

Office Ergo 101: Workstations & Risk Factors

Whether you’re new to ergonomics and need a road map for program implementation, or you’re looking for a refresher on the basics, or a how-to guide for office equipment evaluation and purchasing decisions – this workshop is for you.  Using a hands-on approach, attendees will learn to use proven methods for setting up an ergonomically sound workstation that will prevent injury and increase worker productivity.  The pathology of cumulative trauma disorders, the biomechanics of sitting, workstation setup, and the risk of injury will be reviewed.  Risk factors associated with the development of repetitive stress disorders will be analyzed, and simple solutions to reducing risk factors will be demonstrated.  Attendees will leave this workshop knowing how to set up an employee’s workstation for maximized productivity and minimal risk of injury. Upon returning to work, attendees will be able to spot potential risks and most importantly, know what to do about it including:

• Identifying how injuries are related to posture and workstation set up
• Recognizing and solving common workstation set up problems
• Understanding how ergonomic equipment can help reduce risk of injury
• Identifying the costs of injuries, and the total effect to an organization’s bottom line
• The ability to choose the best ergonomic products for your employees’ needs based on function and budget.

At the Heart of Wellness

One of the most prevalent healthcare issues in the U.S. today is the rising rate of obesity.  Data points to obesity being the most common, most expensive and least addressed disease among today’s workforce.   According to new studies, including one done in conjunction with the CDC, annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity have doubled in less than a decade, and may be as high as $174 billion per year in the U.S.  Each obese workers costs an additional $1,429 or 42%  per year in medical costs.  And, average medical expenditures for those with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than healthy employees. These statistics alone point to a need for employers to proactively address obesity among their workforce.

Studies consistently demonstrate that disease prevention is much less costly for employers, insurers and healthcare providers than disease treatment.  This half day workshop will explore the essential elements of corporate wellness programming from its genesis through implementation and program monitoring to ensure continued improvement  Attendees at this eye-opening workshop will return to their organization with the knowledge necessary to educate management and gain wellness programming support, in addition to the tools for program roll out and employee participation, and a method for defining measurable wellness program success.  

Ergonomics Training & Interventions for Maintenance Teams

Modern maintenance teams struggle to balance increasing workloads and dwindling resources with the need for improved ergonomics and safety.  Protecting these workers is critical to the preservation of any organization’s operational and financial stability. Effective training and specific engineering interventions are key in stemming the tide of musculoskeletal injuries found in maintenance workers.  This interactive workshop will utilize live activity analysis and real world case studies to provide a variety of innovative tips, tools, and techniques that will enable attendees to improve workplace ergonomics training, influence behaviors and achieve lasting results. Attendees will leave this workshop with the knowledge and skills necessary to:

• Identify ergonomic risks associated with specific custodial and maintenance tasks
• Select and/or modify tools for injury prevention and improved productivity
• Develop activity-based training sessions that maximize available time,  resources, and post-training skill retention
• Measure and document training effectiveness using competency evaluations and field observations
• Demonstrate ROI by directly connecting cost savings to training and engineering interventions.

Addressing the Ergonomic Challenges of Telecommuting  

Telecommuting is often a centerpiece of corporate sustainability programs. While it reduces the corporate carbon footprint and delights employees, few companies have fully considered the ergonomic issues that arise as employees work from home and other alternative locations, and do so more frequently. This workshop will outline the keys to implementing an ergonomics program that supports the mobile workforce by identifying the risks involved, and how to help employees prevent injuries. Various approaches to assessing the ergonomic risk of the employee’s home office workstation will be discussed, including online assessment tools and evaluations.  Attendees will also explore the policy and cost implications of telecommuting including company policies for purchasing home office equipment, and trigger levels for assessments. Attendees will leave this workshop with:

• An understanding of the ergonomic risks associate with telecommuting
• An understanding of the tools which are available to help address ergonomics risk
• A comprehensive list of policy decisions that organizations need to address when implementing a telecommuting program
• Examples of programs that are effective in addressing telecommuter workstations and risk mitigation.

The Physiological Effects of Shift Work in All Industries

One of the most fundamental principles of ergonomics is to recognize human capabilities and limitations, yet this basic tenant of ergonomics is frequently ignored when it comes to work scheduling.  Across industries the push to produce more will often translate into more hours, more shifts, or on an individual basis for the employee to perform multiple jobs.   The research is clear:  ignore the impact of work scheduling and you can expect fatigue, errors, poor health and quality of life, injuries, and even deaths.   After attending this comprehensive workshop, attendees will be able to:

• Describe the impact of adverse work schedules on health, errors, productivity and injury risk 
• Justify changes in work schedules based on quantified estimates of corresponding changes in injury risk and productivity
• Explain the interaction of the four key aspects of work scheduling and their relative contribution to injury risk
• Analyze work schedules using available software to estimate injury risk and fatigue
• Provide insight to management in regard to industry-specific work scheduling and related risk trends
• Develop cost-justifiable interventions that mitigate the negative consequences of adverse work schedules. 

Participants are encouraged, but not required to bring their laptops or spreadsheet-enabled PDA's or cell phones with them to this workshop. 

Ergonomics: Reducing Workers’ Comp & Proven Return to Work Strategies

Successful return to work programs are never a one-size-fits-all type of solution.  Understanding each worker’s abilities, time on the job, job-related tasks, and how they can affect the worker’s injury are just a few of the factors that contribute to the success of a return to work program.  For the employer, returning an employee to work following an injury serves multiple purposes, including:  retaining a trained and knowledgeable employee, lowering worker’s comp costs, and displaying a commitment to the workforce.  To be truly effective though, all return to work programs must start with ergonomics. 

During this interactive workshop attendees will learn how to integrate ergonomics into the process for greater return to work success. Attendees will leave this workshop with real solutions, a true understanding of the workers’ compensation system, and task analysis.  This workshop is perfect for those interested in finding real world solutions to this very expensive and growing problem that faces workers and employers across all industries.