Industry: Industrial Organic Chemicals - SIC Code: 286

Success Brief:

PPG's ergonomics process is directed at preventing workplace musculoskeletal disorders by focusing on work site analysis, hazard prevention and control, medical management, training and education, program evaluation and record keeping. With this approach, hundreds of projects and engineering solutions have improved the working environment for PPG employees worldwide.

The Problem:

Medical costs and lost work time from workplace musculoskeletal disorders.

The Solution:

In 2001, the company appointed an ergonomist to its safety and health staff. The ergonomist organizes training courses and provides technical support to the company's many ergonomics teams as well as facilitates communications among them. The teams share improvements using "ErgoShare" forms maintained on the company's intranet site. In addition, each year, PPG holds a three-day occupational ergonomics seminar in Pittsburgh to train about 30 EHS associates, ergonomic team members at company facilities, engineers, physicians and nurses in ergonomic concepts and hazard analysis. More than 1,300 employees have attended the seminars so far, as well as many PPG customers.

The Impact:

Through PPG's ergonomics process, hundreds of projects and engineering solutions have improved the working environment for PPG employees worldwide.

Source:

• Richard D. Pagnotta, Corporate Safety and Health, PPG Industries, January 2003.