Working at a busy tire dealer is a demanding job. Employees are often surrounded by moving cars and trucks, heavy parts, sharp objects, dangerous machinery, and slippery surfaces from all kinds of fluids and oils leaking from vehicles. The simple act of bending and straightening to install tires day after day can be very taxing on the body, let alone the stress of getting heavy tires on and off a vehicle.
Ergonomics is the study of workplace equipment in order to reduce injury or discomfort and thus improve productivity. It is important to apply ergonomics where possible in the workplace to help reduce the occurrence of cumulative trauma disorder, which is a type of injury that occurs due to the stress of repetitive motion. Training employees to perform their tasks with an ergonomic approach can help limit the number of injuries sustained on the job, which in turn can help tire dealers lower their workers’ compensation premiums. These are some of the common risk factors in the workplace that can cause damage or injury to the musculoskeletal system; many, if not all, are usually present at a tire dealer:
- Making forceful efforts and movements.
- Holding the body in extreme postures and performing extreme or repetitive movements.
- The exposure of the body to efforts, movements, etc.
- Exposure to vibrations and low temperatures.
- Rest and work interruptions too short.
- Certain types of work that are stressful (such as working on an assembly line or other work that is controlled by machinery; meeting quotas or closely monitoring an employee’s performance).
- Dangerous environmental factors (such as noise, slippery surfaces, contact with extremely hot objects, etc.).
Improve working conditions (and productivity)
By setting up workstations with a focus on ergonomics, that tactic alone can help reduce on-the-job injuries, as working at a station that is too low or too high can trigger those extreme postures and movements that have been defined as risks. The height of a work surface should be based on the height of the task being performed and the height of the object the employee is working on. Four inches above elbow height is usually appropriate for fine work such as mechanical assembly.
Simply allowing workers to perform in greater comfort, without bending or stretching for long periods of time, is a great start to making the workplace safer; At the same time, employers shouldn’t be surprised if workers become more productive when their bodies are no longer subjected to undue stress.
Employers should consult a professional insurance agent for more information on how to protect employees in the workplace. An agent can provide information that will help improve overall safety, as well as offer access to tire dealer workers’ compensation programs.
