Ergonomics?

By Ross Winklbauer

Eric Chihlar, Safety Engineer at Briggs & Stratton wrote an article in the January/February Employee Connection called, “What is Ergonomics?”.

In the article he explains that ergonomics is the science of fitting jobs to people. He also states that Briggs & Stratton has initiated an ergonomics team. He goes on to list the 12 principles of ergonomics.

They are as follows:

	1.) Keep everything in easy reach
	2.) Work at proper heights
	3.) Reduce excessive forces
	4.) Work in good postures
	5.) Reduce excessive repetition
	6.) Minimize fatigue
	7.) Minimize direct pressure
	8.) Provide adjustability and change of posture
	9.) Provide clearance
	10.) Maintain a comfortable environment
	11.) Enhance clarity and understanding
	12.) Improve work organization

Local 7-232 agrees that ergonomics are very important to our members safety and overall working conditions.

The problem is the Company needs to sit their time study department and their engineers down and explain the 12 principles to them. They seem to do the opposite.

When they talk about #6- minimizing fatigue, the Company’s time study department’s answer is to cut rates. That only makes the employees have to work faster causing more fatigue.

Principle #5 talks about reducing excessive repetition, again the Company’s time study department’s answer is to cut rates. Even the die cast machine attendants are being pushed for more production (meaning excessive repetitions) and they are on a set pay scale.

On Principles #1- keep everything in easy reach and in principle #4- work in good postures, the Company’s engineer’s answer was to fit dept. M8 so close together that the employees have problems not only running their jobs, but also, just getting to them. They talk about easy reach, but have very few lifts close to the job.

Maybe if their time study department and engineers would start using the 12 principles, department #203-Rehab, wouldn’t be known as M8 South.