Success Brief:
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego
added a mandatory ergonomics training program
for all employees that has significantly reduced
the facility’s injury and illness incidence
rate, severity rate and “days away” case rate.
The Problem
Lockheed Martin
Systems Integration - Owego experienced several
musculoskelatal injuries/illnesses (namely
carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain and
tendonitis) involving both material handling and
keyboard/mouse use. After analyzing past
accident investigation reports, one key pattern
was identified: employees were waiting to report
their injuries only after the symptoms had
progressed to the point of severe pain and
discomfort.
The Solution
The company’s ergonomics
program has a training and communications
component, employee involvement, and workstation
evaluation, and stresses early recognition and
reporting of musculoskelatal injuries/illnesses.
All employees are required to take at least one
course in ergonomics. Several training courses
are available depending upon the type of work
performed. Job task evaluations are initiated by
employee requests; reported injuries (including
first aid cases); and any significant
departmental moves, additions or refurbishments.
Based on these evaluations, the necessary
physical and/or work practice changes are
provided. Employee reporting of signs or
symptoms triggers an immediate job task review
and medical management of their case, including
follow-up reviews after recommendations are
made.
The Impact
Since instituting mandatory
ergonomics training and improvements, Lockheed
Martin Systems Integration - Owego has seen its
“days away” case rate steadily improve over
recent years to less than 0.20 in 2002. The
number of musculoskelatal injuries/illnesses as
a percentage of total OSHA recordables has also
declined. Keyboard/mouse related
injuries/illness, once prevalent, are now so low
that employees rarely miss work or have to be
put on restricted duty for such conditions.
Source:
Lee Anderson, CIH CSP, Staff Industrial
Hygienist (June 2003)
