Ergonomics is the science of improving employee postures, making jobs less strenuous and preventing long-term musculoskeletal injuries. Today, more and more organizations in South East Asia are embracing Ergonomics to make workplaces safer, prevent accidents and lower workers’ compensation costs. However, beyond these strong business benefits, human resource professionals are discovering the hidden value of Ergonomics in boosting staff morale, enhancing workforce productivity and increasing employee retention. A well-designed Ergonomics program offers employees a totally unique, refreshing perspective about work and themselves – a stimulation unmatched by traditional employee engagement initiatives; which often lack originality and intrinsic value today’s discerning employees seek. Through insightful case studies, this talk will share what Ergonomics is and how it can provide HR Directors and business leaders with the much sought-after ‘wow factor’ to engage and enrich employees in innovative ways.

1. ERGONOMICS
THE NEW DELIGHTER !
MAY 30, 2015
BALI
Yogesh Tadwalkar
Ex-President,
Ergonomics Society of Singapore.
Managing Director,
Synergo Consulting Pte Ltd.
www.synergo.com.sg

2. WHAT IS ERGONOMICS
Ergon: work
Nomoi: natural laws
“Science of fitting workplace conditions and
job demands to the capabilities of humans.”
Anthropometry
Biomechanics
Cognition

3. ABOUT
 Ergonomics Program Management
 Workspace Ergo Audits
 Personal Ergo Assessments
 Ergonomics Training
 Ergo Furniture Advisory
 Product Design Benchmarking
Pragmatic Ergonomics Consulting
www.synergo.com.sg

4. BRINGING WORLD-CLASS ERGONOMICS TO APAC

5. BRINGING WORLD-CLASS ERGONOMICS TO APAC
Offices Manufacturing Plants Laboratories
Oil and Gas Control RoomsHotels and Resorts
Healthcare
Retail Stores

6. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SAFETY
Known

7. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SAFETY
Known

8. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
• 41% of all work-related health problems reported are
attributable to ergonomics / work-related musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs).
• MSDs and other ergonomic problems result in an economic
loss of $3.5 billion a year to Singapore.
• The cost to workers’ health and well-being is of course
immeasurable, because it also affects the family.
Opening Speech by Mr
Hawazi Daipi, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary for
Education and Manpower at
the Workplace Ergonomics
Forum, 27 March 2014
Known

9. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
little known

10. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
“Roughly 68% of the
business travellers often
work in their room.
65% business travellers
also expect a lot more
from a hotel than just a
clean room and
comfortable bed.
Over 50% are willing to
pay extra for a more
ergonomic room.”
- Deloitte Survey, 2010
little known

11. NOW THE
UNKNOWN…

12. WHAT CREATES “EMPLOYEE DELIGHT”?

13. Customer Satisfaction
KANO’S MODEL APPLIED TO HR
Employee Satisfaction
ERGONOMICS…
REFRESHING, RELEVANT,
REJUVENATING
THE NEW DELIGHTER !
Kano, 1984

14.  Improvement in mood states
 Reduction in pain and
discomfort relating to
Musculoskeletal Disorders
(MSDs)
 Increase in Productivity
 Higher Motivation to work
20 %Placebo Effect?
• Cornell University, Hedge, A. and Ray, E.J. (2004) Effects of an electronic height-adjustable worksurface on self-assessed
musculoskeletal discomfort and productivity among computer workers.
• Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011; Nicolaas P. Pronk, PhD et all
Discomfort Ratings
“ Being relatively unknown, employees find Ergonomic programs
innovative and stimulating.”
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
unknown

15. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
• 73% of working adults in Singapore suffer from work-related MSD
• The body parts with most pain are neck (46%), shoulder (42%) and low back (42%).
• There is a higher prevalence of MSD in females (79%) compared to males (64%)
Source: SGH 2013 study, Singapore
unknown
“ More than any other time, Ergonomics is relevant today as the challenging
work demands take a toll on employee health, morale and family life.”

16. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ERGONOMICS
unknown
• OSHA estimate over 700,000 RSI’s occur every year
• 15-25% of computer users throughout the world may have RSI
• Every day 6 people in UK leave their jobs due to RSI
• Over 500 young Indian IT Professionals have lost their jobs because of advanced RSI
“ Ergonomic programs are rewarding for businesses because a lack of them
means significant opportunity cost relating to employee ”

17. BRINGING ERGONOMICS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Ergo
Furniture
and
Accessories
Awareness
Building and
Training
Workstation
Assessments
for Staff

18. RELATIVE COST OF ERGONOMICS INITIATIVES
 Amount spent on each
employee for everyday coffee
$2
 Total amount spent on coffee
in 3 years
(Average employee tenure)
$1500
3. Full Desk; $800-1200
2. Desk-mount; $300-500
$1 invested in ergonomics
can return ~$18
(Scott Schneider & George Wahl, 1998)

19. CONCLUSION
 Ergonomics can bring about multiple
benefits relating to employee safety
 Additionally, they can delight
employees is refreshingly new ways
and result in higher morale and
enhanced productivity
 ROI on ergonomics initiatives is
always positive, with lasting value.

20. yogesh@synergo.com.sg
www.synergo.com.sg
ERGONOMICS
THE NEW DELIGHTER !
linkedin.com/in/yogeshtadwalkar
www.synergo.com.sg
Synergo Consulting: https://www.facebook.com/synergoconsulting
Ergo Matters !: https://www.facebook.com/groups/227129330827428/
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THANKS!