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Ergonomics
and Economics, Dilemma's and Chances (The following information has been abstracted from a paper submitted to the 2nd International Symposium on Ergonomics in Building and Construction, IEA, August 2000)  |
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Ernst A.P. Koningsveld Eur Erg
Many ergonomists feel the need to prove the economical benefits of their work. However, mathematical models are scarce, and calculations are not as simple as they should like. In the Netherlands two studies were carried out to estimate the costs of (poor) working conditions nationwide respectively for the building and construction industry. These studies learned a lot about possibilities and impossibilities for such calculations. A model was developed, in which are incorporated the work related costs of: absenteeism, occupational disability, medical care, the material damage as a result of occupational accidents, effects on productivity, prevention:
In the paper several aspects of approximations and calculations of these costs are described. Benchmarking of results of the Dutch construction industry versus the national data makes clear that the great expenses for prevention over the pas years have resulted in a substantial decrease of the costs of absenteeism and occupational accidents.
References
KONINGSVELD EAP, MOSSINK, JCM. The macro costs of working environment
in the Netherlands (in Dutch: Kerncijfers maatschappelijke kosten van
arbeidsomstandigheden in Nederland), VUGA, Den Haag, The Netherlands,
1997
KONINGSVELD EAP, THE K, VAN DUIVENBOODEN, JC. The macro costs of working environment for the building and construction industry. To be published by Elsevier in 1999.
TNO Work and Employment
Team Ergonomics and Innovation
PO Box 718
2130 AS Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
tel. 011-31-23-554-9931
fax 011-31-23-554-9305
e-mail: e.koningsveld@arbeid.tno.nl
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