Affiliations: North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, CO,
USA | Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health
Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Banner Health, North Colorado
Medical Center, 1800 15{th} Street, Suite 100A, Greeley, CO 80631, USA. Tel.:
+1 970 378 3848; Fax: +1 970 350 6431; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The following case study describes an ergonomics intervention
program, designed and implemented by an occupational therapist (OT), which
included principles of participatory ergonomics, had full support of management
and administration, and addressed the work, worker, and environment. The
ergonomics program took place in the Sterile Processing Center (SPC) of a 398
bed, mid-western hospital. The SPC was responsible for the collection,
sterilization, and reassembling of hospital surgical equipment. The 30
employees of the SPC were vulnerable to injury, having experienced 19 in only
two years (of the 19 injuries, 9 were WMSD or ergonomics-related injuries).
Over a two and a half year period, the OT and SPC manager conducted ergonomic
evaluations, implemented employee training, designed a new SPC department, and
modified work processes and equipment. In the year following the training and
changes, the SPC staff experienced no injuries. Because of it's success, the
program is continuing on a quarterly basis to ensure new problems are addressed
quickly, new processes or equipment are evaluated, and new staff are properly
trained.
