Call to do more to tackle poor ergonomics

'Factory Ergonomics - A study into the impact of ergonomics on productivity, quality and employee health' highlights the cost to the bottom line of lost working days, with the latest statistics revealing a cost of £5.7 billion to the British economy per year as a result of workplace injuries. Written by Ross Townshend, an expert in manual production systems at manufacturer Bosch Rexroth, the report discusses the key principals of good ergonomic design and how it can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and increase productivity and efficiency. Townshend said: "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're 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." More than 7.5 million working days are lost every year as a result of MSDs, according to the Health and Safety Executive, which has also claimed that more than a million workers are affected by MSD each year, with poorly designed work areas cited as a key cause.