What are the benefits of ergonomics?
The 'Optimise Factor'
Office Workstation Assessments
Optimise YOU seminars
How are Optimise services provided?
Where will Optimise ergonomists work?
When might ergonomics services be useful?
Do you require a trainer or presenter?
Project examples
How does Optimise charge?

What are the benefits of ergonomics?

The benefits of ergonomics interventions are usually seen at many levels within the organisation. Well-designed interventions see workers experience fewer discomfort and injury problems - this makes for happier and more effective workers, reduces injury costs, and creates increased productivity, often with less error and waste.

"Since the Optimise ergonomics assessment and the changes we made, we have had no new injury reports in the last year."

"We have less down-time and have improved our outputs."

"Even though workers are now taking small breaks and rotating tasks during their shifts, they are performing better throughout the day and our productivity has actually improved."

Managers, supervisors and workers that are consulted with and involved with the systems evaluation process feel ownership, and are likely to be happier - often resulting in less sickness and absenteeism.

"It was good that what we said did count, and the changes that have been made are better for us too."

"I don't feel so tired at the end of the day - it is easier to concentrate and to do the job correctly."

The systems evaluation approach ensures that all risk factors are considered, and that recommendations made don't miss or gloss over difficult issues.

"We had to acknowledge that as managers we needed to make some changes too, we were a part of the problem but had kept blaming workers - who really didn't have the power to make all the right changes."

"The Optimise assessment was thorough and gave us a clear breakdown of all the things we needed to address."

The design of optimal work systems, environments, workstations, work tools and other equipment ensures that tasks can be completed efficiently, comfortably and safely. A process of design, then user trials, evaluation and redesign ensures excellent outcomes.

"Optimise helped us to redesign the trolleys we use - now this model is so much better than the last ones."

Workers with lower capacities are often accommodated by good work system design enabling experienced but aging or otherwise less able workers to stay in the workforce for longer.

"Since we addressed the manual handling issues identified by Optimise, our older and more experienced workers are finding it easier, workers aren't getting so sore, and it is easier for those with existing discomfort to manage it."

Analysis of the performance specifications required for key furniture and equipment allows right-first-time equipment purchasing decisions. This also enables the meeting of legal requirements under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for the provision of a safe work environment.

"Optimise assisted us to determine which of the many and confusing 'ergonomic' furniture options best suited our requirements."

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The 'Optimise Factor'

Optimise is dedicated to practical, honest, skilled consultancy, delivered in a timely and professional manner. Optimise ergonomists are passionate about their work, have a practical approach, and are sensitive to client needs. They are aware of the constraints that exist in today's business environment, and cognizant of the range of health and safety and design standards demanded.

Optimise ergonomists will carry out thorough analysis using a range of appropriate methods in order to identify effective solutions. They will focus on overall system performance - not just health and safety. Recommendations given will be prioritised, and guidelines on implementation and evaluation provided.

Optimise ergonomists are experienced in a wide variety of industries and work types, and maintain safe behaviours in all work settings. They will communicate effectively with managers and workers at all levels and from all cultures, creeds and backgrounds.

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Office Workstation Assessments
In order to make it easier for local Nelson and  Tasman organisations to use Optimise services for office workstation  assessments, the following packages are offered.

1.	Physical set up of your workstation (gear adjustment and posture).	20 minutes	$50 + GST
2.	Physical workstation set up, and set up for specific work tasks.	45 minutes	$100 + GST
3.	Physical workstation set up, task specific set up, and discomfort management advice.	1.5 hours	$200 + GST
4.	Review of contributory  factors for discomfort, pain and injury in your office workplace - for  updating hazard management documentation, and consideration of management  strategies to address risks.	4 hours	$500 + GST

Other services such as equipment selection, advice for office planning/layout, and staff/manager training can be quoted as required.  Travel costs may apply.
If additional reporting is required to meet your organisation's needs, additional costs may also  apply

Optimise YOU seminars

Optimise Ltd is providing seminars based on the new best practice document “Guidelines for Using Computers - Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury” (ACC and DoL 2010). Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use seminars were held throughout New Zealand in 2011 and we will continue in 2012. At the moment we are developing the schedule and will update the website shortly.

New Guidelines for Using Computers

Optimise Ergonomist, Marion Edwin CNZErg, has been part of the writing team for the important ACC and DoL (OSH) document - ‘Guidelines for Using Computers - Preventing and managing discomfort, pain and injury’. This best practice document was published in late 2010, and will replace the 1995 'Approved Code of Practice for the Use of Visual Display Units in the Place of Work'.

The new 'Guidelines for Using Computers' outlines some important changes to best practice for the use of computers. Anyone who has organisational responsibility for the health and safety of computer users should make themselves familiar with these changes. Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training will provide the information to update your knowledge of the contemporary research-based best practice for this field. Don't assume that you know it all already - many practitioners are finding the changes to best practice challenging, and a professional review of their approach to be refreshing and informative.

First as an occupational therapist and now as an ergonomist, Marion has over twenty years of experience assisting organisations to provide healthy work environments and work experiences for people using computers. She is a skilled group facilitator and respected trainer, always remembered for her lively and informative sessions. Attendees ‘get’ the important information, and learn the skills they require. Marion is known to many via her role over the last 4 years as an external trainer for ACC's Discomfort Pain and Injury (DPI) training sessions.

Knowledge and skills gained in Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training:

• How the guidelines link to the legislation, previous documents, and other resources,
• Understanding computer-related health problems and causes
• Assessing the hazards related to computer-use
• Identifying the hazard controls that fit the intent of the best practice document
• Selecting suitable interventions
• Managing the health problems of computer users
• Monitoring the health of computer users
• Reviewing your hazard management systems

Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training is suitable for:

• Occupational health and safety practitioners - learn what the new guidelines mean for your professional practice.
• Business owners or managers - understand how the guidelines impact on your business, including guiding decision-making for office and equipment upgrades.
• Supervisors, health and safety representatives - learn suitable induction and ‘first aid’ computer comfort interventions and approaches.
• Retail staff - to ensure that advice given fits with current best practice when selling computer-related equipment.
• Designers and manufacturers of computer-related equipment and furniture - to understand best practice for computer use.
• Computer users - to know how best to manage self, tasks and the environment for healthy computer use.

Testimonials from people that have taken the seminar:

"Our attendance at the Optimise You Healthy Computer Use seminar was spot on - it was just what we needed, at just the right time. Within a week of attending, we have both used the revised guidelines in assessments, and feel more confident that we are providing a service reflecting sound research and best practice theories. One of the largest benefits gained from the Seminar is the many ‘pearls of wisdom’ you shared with us - these are invaluable and your generosity in providing such information puts you ahead of the rest. Thanks Marion."

-- Kerryn Hayes and Wendy Miller, Rehab Plus Ltd.
(New Plymouth,April 2011)

"I attended one of Marion’s Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use seminars. Marion managed to convey the essential nuts and bolts of the new ‘Guidelines for Using Computers’ in a lively, interactive and informative manner. Marion is clearly a subject matter expert in this field. As well as gaining valuable knowledge around setting up computer workstations, I came away with practical, easy and affordable solutions to adapting existing workstations so they are fit for purpose. If you are planning to update your workstations do yourself a favour, go to this course first."

-- Denise Hartley-Wilkins, MHRINZ, Director, Shine People Consulting Ltd.
(Nelson, May 2011)

The following testimonials are from the Evaluation Form after a seminar held in Christchurch, November 2011

[What was the most useful part of the workship and why?] "Introducing me to new exciting developments through an informative and detailed format from someone who knows the 'ins and outs.'"

"Brilliant presentation - Marion you are great to listen to and your humour infectious. Thank you."

"Thank you. This has been the best, most informative seminar I have done in relation to this topic."

Seminar Schedule

Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training sessions are available in main centres around New Zealand and in other centres as demand indicates. All seminars are 9.00 am - 3.30 pm, catered. If required, sessions can be tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. Optimise is happy to discuss the provision of Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training sessions in liaison with local service providers. If your practice wishes to discuss this option please send email to info@optimiseltd.co.nz.

We are currently developing our schedule for this year, 2012. We will post it shortly. If you would like to us to schedule a seminar in your area, please contact us at info@optimiseltd.co.nz.

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Watch this website for additional seminar postings, or request to be placed on the mailing list at info@optimiseltd.co.nz.
Download a flyer on the Optimise YOU Healthy Computer Use training. (PDF / Word Doc)

   

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How are Optimise services provided?

On making contact with Optimise your unique service requirements will be discussed, and a plan for service provision made. It is usual for some aspects of the work (such as assessment activities, data gathering, progress meetings) to be completed at the client's place of work, and others (such as research, data analysis, report preparation) to be carried out at Optimise offices. As the type of work required is very varied, a flexible approach is necessary.

Services may be as simple as a 'walk-through' overview with verbal discussion and feedback, or as complex as a full work system assessment that gathers detailed and specific information about many aspects that impact on task performance. This might be in a single department or work unit, in one or more of your organisation's branches throughout the country, or in a number of companies from the same industry.

Optimise can also be contracted to work as part of larger project or design teams.

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Where will Optimise ergonomists work?

Optimise staff are familiar with working in a wide range of environments, and are comfortable travelling throughout New Zealand and beyond. Optimise ergonomists have worked in areas including warehouses, sawmills, hospitals, abattoirs, food production, retail, hospitality, airlines, service industries, and casinos... And from clean environments to dirty, from quiet to noisy, from manual to highly technical, indoors and outdoors, and from carnivorous to vegan!

You are welcome to discuss your needs with us.

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When might ergonomics services be useful?

Ergonomics services may be valuable at a range of times, including:

• When planning refurbishment or upgrade of office/other work area
• Making purchasing decisions for furniture or plant
• Planning factory or work area upgrades - process flow and work space requirements
• There is a high incidence of injury or discomfort (or risk of this due to manual handling requirements)
• Determining task allocation and rostering
• Training workers in injury prevention
• 'Training the trainers' - up-skilling your workers for enhanced within-organisation capacity
• Developing safe work methods and procedures, and best practice guidelines (for practical tasks, or other work processes)
• The specific needs of disabled or less able workers need to be accommodated
• Undertaking product development and usability testing
• Human factors research or a review of current literature is required

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Do you require a trainer or presenter?

Optimise ergonomists are skilled trainers and presenters. They are comfortable working in a range of settings, with a wide variety of topics and objectives, and with participants from all backgrounds. Participants appreciate the expertise brought by Optimise ergonomists, and their speaking competence and experience will create a smoothly run and successful event.

Examples are:

• feedback to work groups following work system assessment
• training workers in manual handling methods / processes
• training workers and management staff in discomfort, pain and injury prevention
• presenting to management staff on the design of work processes etc
• facilitation of focus groups for user trials, and other objectives
• conference presentations and workshops

Marion consistently receives positive feedback for her work as one of only a few external trainers for ACC's DPI (Discomfort, Pain and Injury) program, and is known for her personable and attention-holding presentation style.

"I really enjoyed you as a presenter and thought you were amazing! You held my attention every time you took the stage - very inspirational."

"Hearty congratulations on your passion, humour and organisational skills!"

"Great use of different media, opportunity for audience participation, and great obvious knowledge and experience by presenter."

"Marion is fantastic at course delivery!"

"Marion was excellent – informative, personable and funny. Used 'real' terms."

Sue’s professional conference presentations are renowned, and have earned her ‘best presentation’ at ergonomics society conferences, and consistently positive feedback from participants.

"Sue did an excellent job of delivering the content appropriately to different staff."

"Very interesting and interactive."

"Really positive and in tune with what we needed to understand."

"Put everything across clearly and was easily understood."

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What services are provided by Optimise?

Optimise will work with you to provide confidential ergonomics services to meet your unique needs.

Services include:

• Work System Assessment - a range of investigative methods used to identify physical design, work organisation design and education and training needs, with prioritised intervention recommendations
• Computer workstation assessments (or other workstations, such as at control centres)
• The training of 'workstation assessors' for computer workstation assessments
• Identifying manual handling risks and intervention strategies
• Designing interventions to reduce discomfort and pain related to manual handling activities
• The delivery of tailored manual handling and safe work method education and training programmes
• Work with design teams for product, plant and equipment design
• Professional supervision of occupational therapists or other occupational health and safety personnel
• Accommodating the unique needs of disabled workers or product users
• Available to work with other ergonomists/human factors consultants and researchers, and researchers/consultants from other fields, as part of larger project teams

Optimise carries Professional Indemnity, Statutory Liability and Public/ General Liability Insurance.
(Click here to view pricing)

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Examples of project progression

Examples of how different projects might progress are given below.

A) SIMPLE
Computer workstation (or other workstation) assessments, and/or education sessions for a group of office or other staff:

1. Initial email and/or telephone contact, discussion of your requirements.
2. Provision of an email/written proposal outlining service and costs.
3. Acceptance of proposal and provision of an order number by the service purchaser, and appointment set-up.
4. Assessment completion, provision of assessment results, perhaps feedback to management (either verbal or written).
5. Invoice on completion of work.

B) SIMPLE
Walk-through assessment for advice regarding existing desks/chairs and furniture function and recommendation for furniture better meeting needs.

1. Initial email and/or telephone contact, discussion of your requirements.
2. Provision of an email/written proposal outlining service and costs.
3. Acceptance of proposal and provision of an order number by the service purchaser, and appointment set-up.
4. Assessment completion, provision of assessment results, feedback to management (either verbal or written).
5. Invoice on completion of work.

C) COMPLEX
Assessment of sets of work tasks or a work system, with common drivers being health and safety, manual handling risk reduction, production efficiency, and reduction of staff turnover/sickness:

1. Initial email and/or telephone contact, discussion of nature of proposed project.
2. Initial meeting at the place of work to discuss the approach, framework used, and scope of work, and to carry out a walk-through overview of the work activity.
3. Preparation of a detailed project brief and costing, to be fully agreed by all parties before commencing.
4. Invoice for preparation of project brief.
5. Arrangement of site visits and activities, ensuring that key workers and work groups are available, and that the necessary production runs etc are scheduled to allow assessment activities.
6. Site assessment activities may include worker interviews, photographs, video, and other data gathering methods (eg force measures, heart rate, environmental conditions) as required.
7. Offsite activities including data analysis and integration, further communication to gather missing information and check information, literature search, report preparation.
8. Presentation of report results and discussion of "where to from here".
9. Invoice for assessment and report. (May be part-invoiced at different stages for larger projects).
10. Follow-up activities as may be agreed – such as work on safe operating procedures, training activities, work with engineers and others on plant, product and process improvements, and further assessment of other work areas or processes.
11. Work completion/finish with final invoicing at time determined by service purchaser.

D) COMPLEX
Work with a design team for a new product, or redesign of an existing product.

1. Initial email and/or telephone contact, discussion of nature of proposed project.
2. Meeting to consider areas where ergonomics assistance required - perhaps defining user needs, anthropometric considerations in design of products, human-machine interface issues, analysis of function, user trials, and product experience testing.
3. Preparation of project brief and contract/costing. Work may be carried out in stepwise fashion, agreed at each step, and invoiced accordingly. (Work likely to be as part of a design team, rather than a consultant purchased in for discrete activities).

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How does Optimise charge?

Charge-out rates reflect the university-level qualifications and considerable experience of the Optimise ergonomists. Consultancy fees are per day or per hour; and travel, accommodation and other expenses will be charged if applicable.

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