Production economics analysis of investment initiated to improve working environment

Research and dissemination needs for ergonomics in agriculture

“…Some reports are available on aspects of the costs and benefits of MSD prevention programs in industries other than agriculture. [7][8][9][10][11][12] Research on costs and benefits of MSD programs or interventions in agriculture are needed so that agricultural managers can see how MSD programs will affect them financially. Case studies or confirmed data on a company's costs associated with MSDs could put a dollar amount on program savings.…”

Exploring maritime ergonomics from a bottom line perspective

“…At company level, numerous examples of profitable improvements of work environments exist (Abrahamsson 2000;Oxenburgh, Marlow and Oxenburgh 2004). The profitability mainly originates from improvements in productivity and quality (De Greef and Van den Broek 2004) while the economic consequences of sick-leave are a small part of the total economic effects of the work environment (Rose and Örten-gren 2000;Abrahamsson 2000).…”

“…The profitability mainly originates from improvements in productivity and quality (De Greef and Van den Broek 2004) while the economic consequences of sick-leave are a small part of the total economic effects of the work environment (Rose and Örten-gren 2000;Abrahamsson 2000). The greatest proportion of indirect costs associated with injuries and illnesses in the workplace include overtime, productivity losses and quality deficiencies (Rose and Orrenius 2007).…”

“…Research on workplaces ashore show a strong relationship between a number of ergonomic issues and performance by way of increased production, higher quality, less cassation and less personnel turnover (Abrahamsson 2000;Axelsson 2000;Eklund et al 2006;Goggins, Spielholz and Nothstein 2008).…”

Effects of two ergonomic improvements in brazing coils of air-handler units

“…In process innovation, numerous ergonomics studies with these outcomes have been conducted (e.g. Edwards and Jensen, 2014;Hemph€ al€ a and Eklund, 2013;Tompa et al, 2013Tompa et al, , 2009Erdinc and Yeow, 2011;Caroly et al, 2010;Maudgalya et al, 2008;Sen, 2006, 2003;Sen and Yeow, 2003;Abrahamsson, 2000). In this study, the authors chose to focus on the physically loading brazing task in the air-conditioning industry as it requires a lot of bending of the operators' arms, wrists and neck, and raising of arms and shoulders, leading to musculoskeletal symptoms (MSs) and quality and productivity problems.…”