Good Workplace Design

Workplace ergonomics is a central topic at the A+A trade fair and convention. With over 1,800 exhibitors, A+A in Düsseldorf is the world’s leading market and communication platform for occupational health and safety. From 27 to 30 October this year’s focus – both at the trade fair and the convention – will be on a central issue again: the ergonomic design of workplaces and working routines. By applying ergonomic findings, it is possible to increase output and at the same time reduce the strain on the workforce, which, in turn, leads to greater productivity. In view of current demographic developments, this is more relevant than ever before. André Klussmann, from the ASER Institute, sums it up with the words: “Good ergonomic workplace design is an essential aspect in keeping employees at work until their regular pensionable age and thus counteracting effects such as staff shortages. Over the last few years this issue has also featured more prominently in German government policies, e.g. by expressly mentioning physical and mental health in the German Occupational Health and Safety Act, by including the term ergonomics in the amended Industrial Safety Regulation and by mentioning precautions for substantial increases in physical stress in the Preventative Occupational Healthcare Regulation.” The new Industrial Safety Regulation specifically stipulates that employers must include ergonomic considerations when defining working routines and choosing materials, tools and equipment. Such resources must be designed and organised in a way that avoids any incorrect or excessive strain, which might endanger the health or safety of the workforce or, if this is not possible, reduce the strain to a minimum. Focus on ergonomics for visitors and companies Industrial ergonomics is nothing new, yet it is continuing to gain in importance. Michael Mohrlang, who is responsible for health and safety and therefore also for ergonomics at BMW in Munich, describes the situation as follows: “Ergonomics is an interdisciplinary science that impacts most areas of our working lives. Ergonomic findings continue to be relevant, irrespective of social developments such as demographic change. Yet demographic change does highlight the importance of implementing the findings that have been gained over a period of decades. The BMW Group therefore continually endeavours to apply ergonomic principles on a comprehensive scale, covering all facets of working routines, whether it’s production, office work or integration management.” It is getting increasingly important to ensure the demographic alignment of workplace design. This can be seen at Continental AG where Klaus-Dieter Wendt is head of Ergonomics: “Our target for 2020 is the demographic alignment of workplaces for 50% of our workforce. To achieve this goal, we have analysed and rated all existing production workplaces in Germany under a strain documentation system and have started to rate all workplaces which are either new or which need to be redesigned. This is giving us the ergonomically relevant data for each workplace, so that we can take precautions to ensure its demographic alignment and to make it manageable for both men and women without causing any excessive strain.” However, to create good ergonomic working conditions, an employer needs to do more than provide the right technicalities. Successful companies are marked by a clear health and safety culture and a commitment to good, sustainable working conditions. Klaus Tech, head of Health and Safety at Linde Gas AG, has been coming to A+A for many years now: “At our company,” he says, “we’ve defined health, safety and environmental protection as fundamental principles for all our business activities. Where health and safety are concerned, we are keen to ensure clearly visible leadership, personal responsibility for one’s actions and direct responsibilities at all corporate levels. We see it as one of our core tasks to provide safe and healthy working conditions for everyone who works for us. One decisive factor is that our staff are well motivated and that they receive training.” Good ergonomic working conditions and resources are, of course, extremely relevant – not only in industry, but also in public services. This is reflected at Munich City Council where Johannes Thallmair is head of Health and Safety, another A+A visitor who has been coming to the trade fair for many years: “Over the last few years there have been some clear and positive developments in ergonomics, not just on the manufacturers’ side, but also with regard to its acceptance and its importance within offices. This applies to Munich, in particular: being a fairly large local council, we need to make provision for an increasingly older workforce and design our workplaces accordingly.”

Published: 15-10-15