PREVYMAN and musculoskeletal disorders

Where have I been and what happened to me?   

Hello! I am PREVYMAN and today I visited a colleague who directs the Prevention Service of an important agri-food company. My professional colleague's main concern is the growing increase in the number of sick leave resulting from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Some of these processes become long-term sick leave and in some specific cases have ended in a situation of disability.

There are many jobs that involve repetitive movements and the Prevention Service has detected that the vast majority of sick leave due to MSDs occur in these positions, it is the area of handling fruit and vegetable products and represents 65% of the Organization's workforce. In recent years, a significant effort has been made in training and information on the risks derived from TME without having obtained positive results.

The explanation offered by the Prevention Service itself is the seasonality of the activity in numerous jobs, the increase in the average age of the workforce in recent years and the high number of nationalities among the personnel who provide service in the company, which makes the information and training process difficult. There is a certain feeling of blockage in the Prevention Service itself in these circumstances.

The Company's Management has expressed its deep concern because this situation has begun to generate problems in production and a visit has been received from the Administration to inquire about this problem from which a proposal for administrative sanction has already been derived.

“Any resemblance to reality is NOT pure coincidence”

What means does the company have to avoid this situation?    

After reflecting on the problem that arises, it is logical to propose long-term aging management in the Company as well as improve the Information and Training process on MSDs by expanding the languages in which the information is offered. same.

But the Company needs to take measures in a shorter period of time to stop the increase in accidents derived from MSDs.

I have contacted the Prevention Department of the Mutual Collaborator of Social Security (MCCSS) that serves the Company in order to propose to them, and obtain their professional opinion.

After the positive assessment of the MCCSS, a double Action Plan has been designed and proposed to the Management that would begin to be developed simultaneously.

Short Term:

• Review of the ergonomic conditions of the workstations, performing an ergonomic evaluation.
• Design of pre-work exercises to be carried out by workers.
• Hold a Training Day with one in every 25 workers to serve as support monitors for carrying out these exercises for the entire workforce in the handling area horticultural.
• Exhibit posters with expression of the defined exercises.
• Dedicate the first 10 minutes of the work day to performing exercises.

Medium-Long Term:

• Apply the measures that arise from it, for example by modifying the height of the work plane, including these measures in the Preventive Activity Planning.
• Introduction of technical improvements such as changing tools or tools for others with a more ergonomic design.

The Management, after showing some initial reluctance to dedicate working time to this action and the cost that the result of the ergonomic studies may entail, agrees with the condition that a pilot test be carried out in a section for a period of three months in order to analyze how the workers feel throughout their working day as well as whether there is an impact on production.

Likewise, a general ergonomic study is approved, which is scheduled to be carried out in three months and which will be carried out by the Prevention Service.

___HTMLTA G198___What results have been obtained?    

One year has passed since the pilot test began in the section that had the highest accident rate derived from TME and the completion of the ergonomic studies.The sequence of results has been as follows:

1. In the pilot test, the section's production increased by 5% and the number of days lost due to sick leave due to TME was decreased by 12%.
2. Assessed the costs and benefits, Management approves extending the action to the entire area where fruit and vegetable products are handled after three months of the pilot test.
3. In six more months, the results have been extrapolated to the entire aforementioned area, with an increase in production of 6.5% and a drastic decrease in losses due to TME of 18%, which is in the process of decreasing, which has an impact on the company's operating account. Company.
4. To this we will soon have to add the positive effects, which are already being verified, of the actions derived from the ergonomic studies carried out in the workplace.
5. As added effects, staff turnover has decreased with a positive effect on production and the improvement of the work environment is noted as well as the improvement of the Company's image in its area of influence.
6. The Own Prevention Service has been invited to professional forums to explain its success story.

And remember what PREVYMAN always says: "Power is yours"

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