Case study 3 : Deere and Company

Case 1

1 : Write the summary of the article in less than 150 words. (10 marks)

          Deere and Company manufactures farm equipment. The workers needed to work while being on their knees and bent over assembling machinery parts.They had to kneel while fastening the deck with one hand and also holding it with their other hand.These tasks were verified as hazardous by OSHA first-aid logs and forms. It was verified by an increasing loss of productive work time due to back injury of workers which increased up to 31% in 1979.Four of the cases were due to sprains, back injury and strained muscles. For the same reason, the company had to pay a 70% more medical compensation to workers in 1978. The hand job was also highly repetitive further risking to workers wrists. They carried out a review of the office furniture and laid down guidelines for new purchases. They redesigned the workstations at assembling plants to workers did not have to bend or kneel. Benefits of these ergonomics initiatives showed as a reduced exposure of the workers to back injury risks and effectiveness of these ergonomics initiatives resulted in 83% reduction in cases of back injury which saved them considerable lost time. Workers participation and contribution in these initiatives helped the company achieve these benefits.

2 : List the ergonomics issues in that workplace. (5 MARKS)

-Workers needed to work while being on their knees and bent over assembling machinery parts.
-Using hand tools like a wrench was also being used repetitively and with difficult postures for their wrists.
-Employees had to lift a heavy lawn mower deck to attract it to the tractor.
-They had to kneel while fastening the deck with one hand and also holding it with their other hand.
-The reason and risk factors for these workers health issue were lifting and carrying heavy objects weighing around 75 pounds.
-Bending and kneeling of workers for prolonged times.
-Workers with hand tools like wrenches with awkward wrist positions.
-The hand job was also highly repetitive further risking the worker's wrists.


3 : State the consequences that the company had to bear due to ergonomics issues. (5 MARKS)

-A huge amount of lost time and money due to the work environment not being ergonomic.
-An increasing loss of productive work time due to back injury of workers which increased up to 31% in 1979.
-Escalated workers medical compensation costs by 15% per year.
-The company also lost 28% more time due to workers over-exertion and back strains in 1984.
-The company had to pay 70% more medical compensation to workers in 1978.


4 : State the improvement methods that can be taken by the company to overcome the problems
 (5 MARKS)

-The company also trained their employees on the use of video displays.
-The company put restrictions on lifting objects manually which were heavier than 40 pounds.
-The redesigned the workstations at assembling plants to workers did not have to bend or kneel.
-They changed the hand tools to save the workers from wrist strains.
-Installed a hoist at the assembly line for lifting of the lawn mower decks.