An Ergonomics intervention, even when considering the cost of purchasing equipment to correct the situation is, with few exceptions, less expensive than the cost of a single injury. In addition, if several employees are assigned to the same workstation, the risk of injury increases and the compensation cost proportionally, not to mention litigation.
The certified ergonomist performs the risk analysis and makes recommendations at several levels, according to the hierarchy of controls. For example, improving equipment, introducing training, changing working methods.
For example, the ergonomic approach to reduce injuries to forklift operators can consist of replacing a seat in the lift truck and include training to properly adjust the seat and good ergonomic practices, but also incorporate breaks, change processes so as not to handle loads immediately after driving the vehicle, provide stretching, flooring improvements and develop an equipment maintenance program.