Posted to News on 18th Apr 2014, 12:14
How factory ergonomics impacts productivity, quality and health
Bosch Rexroth has published a free white paper, Factory Ergonomics - A study into the impact of ergonomics on productivity, quality and employee health. This report calls on manufacturers to do more to protect workers through better design of work areas, highlighting Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics that reveal more than 7.5million days are lost every year as a result of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
The new white paper also shines a light on the one-million-plus people throughout the UK suffering from MSD each year, with poorly designed work areas often cited as a key cause. The impact on the bottom line of lost working days is also significant, as the latest statistics reveal a cost to the British economy of 5.7billion per year due to workplace injuries.
Authored by Ross Townshend, an expert in manual production systems at Bosch Rexroth, the report also discusses the key principals of good ergonomic design and how, when implemented properly, ergonomics can not only reduce the risk of MSD, but also increase productivity and efficiency.
Mr Townshend says: "While industry is increasingly becoming more automated, humans remain the most versatile component in a manufacturing process. For the sake of workers and British business, ergonomics must be taken seriously.
"With our latest report we are looking to offer production engineers and those responsible for employee health in manufacturing environments, an overview of the key factors that must be taken into account when incorporating an ergonomic solution into the workplace."
Factory Ergonomics - A study into the impact of ergonomics on productivity, quality and employee health can be downloaded from www.boschrexroth.co.uk/ergonomics.
