Assessment · Intervention · Cost Analysis
Program Design · Training
If it wasn’t for the people…
safety and ergonomics would be easy!
So why do we bother?
An effective ergonomics program can promote productivity, increase employee morale, and reduce work-related injuries leading to workers’ compensation claims and increased use of healthcare systems. Overall, a proactive approach to ergonomics increases the strategic management of pre-purchased human resources, the human capital of today's organizations.
The term “ergonomics” is derived from two Greek words: “ergon”, meaning work and “nomoi”, meaning natural laws.
Ergonomic professionals study human capabilities in relationship to work demands.
What we can expect to achieve…
A 25% increase in employee production output- A 4-19% increase in performance
- Cost-benefit ratio of at least 2:3 for the visual correction of an employee
- Increase in productivity of 9% and accuracy by 38%
Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, National Ergnoomics Conference & Exposition, Nov ‘05
Why we should be concerned with POSTURE...
In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. All of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:
- All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures
- Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available.
- Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs.
Proactive approaches to ergonomic issues
facilitates your ability to plan and more effectively manage the process,
direct the outcome(s), and influence the bottom line $$.
On-site intervention, training, and program design is available to employers of all sizes by Certified Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist Debra Vitali Dupree. Debra, formerly affiliated with Pacific Safety Council, is certified through Roy Matheson & Associates, and actively provides ergonomic assessment and intervention in Workers’ Compensation Claims. Debra also serves as a frequent speaker for the American Society for Safety Engineers.
OVERVIEW OF ERGONOMICS EXPERIENCE
To familiarize the reader with Debra’s qualifications, please visit “About Debra” for a detailed biographical overview.
A brief synopsis of her ergonomics experience follows.
- Imperial Irrigation District – ENERGY, Imperial, CA – Comprehensive training and assessment for employees ranging from top management to clerical and field workers. Design and development of an internal ergonomic reporting and evaluation process. Consultation to Benefit and Safety Management on Ergonomic Issues and Interventions. Development of Purchasing Guidelines for tools, vehicles, office furniture, and desktop tools. Ergonomic Consultant since 1993 through the present.
- Kaiser Permanente – Member of So. California Ergonomic Team to assess and intervene in Customer Service/Patient Check-in services (Harbor City, Long Beach, Bellflower, Riverside, and San Diego) and Call Centers (Riverside & Anaheim), prototype of which is now the KP National Standard working in conjunction with SIS Human Factors. 1997-2002
- Honeywell, San Diego & Mexhon, Tijuana – Comprehensive ergonomic studies to include all administrative, engineering and support work locations as well as assessment of manufacturing operations on both sides of the border. Project included group training, discomfort surveys, risk assessment, individualized assessments, and statistical analysis for injury prevention and reduction. 1998-2003
- DART Container, Corona – Comprehensive ergonomic studies to include all production aspects of manufacturing. Range of services included group training, discomfort surveys, risk assessment, individualized assessments, and statistical analysis for injury prevention and reduction. 1997-2003
- Frazee Paint, San Diego – Evaluation of administrative functions and work centers for risk identification and group training / discomfort surveys. Studies included evaluation of those at high risk for prioritization of intervention. 2002-3004
- Helix Water District. La Mesa – Individualized ergonomic assessments of customer service / front office operations. 1999-2003
- California Water District, Montebello, Redondo Beach, Pacific Palisades, and Bakersfield - Evaluation of work centers in customer service operations and administrative offices for risk identification, intervention and follow-up. Included group training / discomfort surveys to prioritize levels of intervention. 2000 through present
- USDA/APHIS/Plant, Protection & Quarantine – Evaluation of baggage handling procedures at International Airports (LAX & SFO) and border crossings (Nogales, Calexico, San Ysidro, and Otay Mesa). Individualized assessments of employees at various California and Arizona locations for both international airport and border crossing facilities – field settings and administrative offices. Training provided to over 300 employees in the Southwest USA and Florida. 1998-2002
TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN DISABILITY MANAGEMENT & ERGONOMICS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
- National Ergonomics Exposition & Conference, Las Vegas – 32 hours, 2005
- Certified Ergonomics Evaluation Specialist, Roy E. Matheson & Associations (www.roymatheson.com) – 40 hours, 1999
- Office Ergonomics, Steelecase – 2 days, 1997
- Certified Professional in Disability Management, 3 quarters, 1997
- Certificate of Completion, Ergonomics Evaluation of the Workplace, Basic & Advanced, Center for Advancement of Industrial Rehabilitation & Evaluation – 40 hours, 1991
- Certified Case Manager, Commission on Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling, 1990
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Commission on Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling, 1986
- Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, State of California, 1985
- Master of Arts – Education / Counseling Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1982