3.8 Christina Wolverson · 2021. 1. 18. · Title: Microsoft PowerPoint - 3.8 Christina Wolverson Author: StuartWilliams Created Date: 1/16/2021 6:22:30 PM

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1 European Industrial Gases Associationwww.eiga.eu

Winter Seminar 2021Behavioural Safety

CHANGING INCORRECT ERGONOMICS THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Christina WOLVERSON

Air Products

2European Industrial Gases Association

www.eiga.euWinter Seminar 2021Behavioural Safety

Introduction

• Slido questions

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Why do people do things wrong

• Why do kids do it right and adults do it wrong?– What’s in it for me? Quickest

way/shortcut, confirmation bias (nothing has happened to me before)

– Learned incorrect behaviour (lose the use of the correct muscles)

• Need to engage brain and muscle



Importance of right behaviour

• Incorrect techniques (even minor) can lead to injuries over time– Example bicep tendon rupture

– Carrying a 15kg cardboard box, with correct technique

• It wasn’t the specific technique that was incorrect, it was the history– Getting techniques right early, will protect people’s health in later in life

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How do we change people’s behaviour

• People’s behaviour learned over 20-25 years cannot be changed overnight

• One off classroom is not sufficient, unlearning takes time

• This is not just a tick box exercise

• Needs constant positive reinforcement

• Peer to peer challenging

• Needs to include outside of work (home)



Wearable technology

• Wearable technology is available to help do it right or reinforce correct technique

• Technology can be an aid to changing behaviours– Training/observation/feedback is still required

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Wearable technology

• Use of tools can reduce risk for highly repetitive tasks



Example - Visafe

• Initial assessment

High Risk

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Example - Visafe

• After refresher advice

Reduced to

minimum

Improvement

Visual demonstration to the employee of the improvement due to a change in behaviour while performing task



Climbing onto catwalk – back assessment

• Using grip on catwalk • Moving grip

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Conclusions

• People’s behaviour learned over 20-25 years cannot be changed overnight

• There isn’t a magic pill

• Constant positive reinforcement

• NAPO video – ‘Think to move’

• https://www.napofilm.net/



Documents referenced

EIGARef. Document title Link

Doc 229 Guidance for Manual Handling Activities of Cylinders www.eiga.eu

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