CASE STUDY - ERGONOMICS Read the case and answer the questions given below: At Deere and Company, assessors recommended changes in the construction department that would limit the physical toll taken on workers performing their routine tasks. Analysis and feedback from workers showed that lifting heavy objects was common, while poorly designed tools contributed to repetitive motion injuries. Further, observation revealed that Deere and Company was losing money on reduced productivity due to the work environment. Workers' compensation costs increased by 15 percent each year, and high numbers of first-aid cases led to staggering health care costs and huge losses in productivity due to absenteeism. However, a new ergonomics training program helped Deere and Company to reduce their injury rates and provide a healthier work environment for its employees. The course covered common issues, many of which appear at companies across industries. Are there any heavy or strenuous lifting/lowering tasks in the job? Do the hand tools they use have an awkward grip? Is the height of the work comfortable for them? Do they experience fatigue and discomfort doing the job? These questions were addressed and the root problems corrected with redesigned workspaces and new hand tools to help workers avoid strains and stress injuries. After implementation, Deere and Company reported an 83 percent reduction in back injuries, along with a 32 percent drop in health care compensation over the last ten years. By involving workers early in the process, the company came to understand the issues on its job floor and learned to address them in detail. Questions: How Ergonomics helped Deere in overcoming their issues? What actually reduced the health care compensation at Deere by 32%?
CASE STUDY - ERGONOMICS Read the case and answer the questions given below: At Deere and Company, assessors recommended changes in the construction department that would limit the physical toll taken on workers performing their routine tasks. Analysis and feedback from workers showed that lifting heavy objects was common, while poorly designed tools contributed to repetitive motion injuries. Further, observation revealed that Deere and Company was losing money on reduced productivity due to the work environment. Workers' compensation costs increased by 15 percent each year, and high numbers of first-aid cases led to staggering health care costs and huge losses in productivity due to absenteeism. However, a new ergonomics training program helped Deere and Company to reduce their injury rates and provide a healthier work environment for its employees. The course covered common issues, many of which appear at companies across industries. Are there any heavy or strenuous lifting/lowering tasks in the job? Do the hand tools they use have an awkward grip? Is the height of the work comfortable for them? Do they experience fatigue and discomfort doing the job? These questions were addressed and the root problems corrected with redesigned workspaces and new hand tools to help workers avoid strains and stress injuries. After implementation, Deere and Company reported an 83 percent reduction in back injuries, along with a 32 percent drop in health care compensation over the last ten years. By involving workers early in the process, the company came to understand the issues on its job floor and learned to address them in detail. Questions: How Ergonomics helped Deere in overcoming their issues? What actually reduced the health care compensation at Deere by 32%?
Chapter1: Making Economics Decisions
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picture attach of the case study kindly read and answer question number 2 that is,
Q) what actually reduced the health care compensation at deere by 32%?
Transcribed Image Text:CASE STUDY - ERGONOMICS
Read the case and answer the questions given below:
At Deere and Company, assessors recommended changes in the construction
department that would limit the physical toll taken on workers performing their routine tasks.
Analysis and feedback from workers showed that lifting heavy objects was common, while
poorly designed tools contributed to repetitive motion injuries. Further, observation revealed
that Deere and Company was losing money on reduced productivity due to the work
environment. Workers' compensation costs increased by 15 percent each year, and high
numbers of first-aid cases led to staggering health care costs and huge losses in productivity
due to absenteeism.
However, a new ergonomics training program helped Deere and Company to reduce
their injury rates and provide a healthier work environment for its employees. The course
covered common issues, many of which appear at companies across industries. Are there any
heavy or strenuous lifting/lowering tasks in the job? Do the hand tools they use have an
awkward grip? Is the height of the work comfortable for them? Do they experience fatigue and
discomfort doing the job? These questions were addressed and the root problems corrected
with redesigned workspaces and new hand tools to help workers avoid strains and stress
injuries.
After implementation, Deere and Company reported an 83 percent reduction in back
injuries, along with a 32 percent drop in health care compensation over the last ten years. By
involving workers early in the process, the company came to understand the issues on its job
floor and learned to address them in detail.
Questions:
How Ergonomics helped Deere in overcoming their issues?
What actually reduced the health care compensation at Deere by 32%?
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