Results of the2015 Ergonomics PractitionEr EnvironmEntal scan survEyA five-part series brought to you by the ASSE Ergonomics Practice Specialty

PaRt 1

Results of the 2015 Ergonomics Practitioner Environmental Scan Survey: Part 1 2

“With what level of competency in ergonomics do key resources need to be performing to maximize their impact?”We polled more than 300 ergonomics practitioners to find out.

We wanted to know:

•Where have you obtained training in ergonomics and does the training meet the marketplace expectations of your role?

•What resources benefit you in the management and implementation of workplace ergonomics programs?

•What are the driving metrics behind your organization’s ergonomics efforts?

The ASSE Ergonomics Practice Specialty (ErgoPS) sought to learn about the ergonomics training, skill and needs in the practitioner’s working area. Further, a comparison of current professional training and certifications available will explore whether a good match exists between the practitioner and marketplace needs. A voluntary survey was administered online and consisted of 14 questions. The survey was open from Oct. 6, 2015, to Nov. 30, 2015, and was promoted through various social media sites, technical working groups and industry conferences. Participation in the survey was open to any interested party who self-identified as a practitioner in the field of ergonomics, whether full or part time.

In the first of a five-part series, we’ll review the demographics of survey respondents.

Disclaimer: ErgoPS is responsible for the design, conduct and interpretation of the analysis.

Results of the 2015 Ergonomics Practitioner Environmental Scan Survey: Part 1 3

Q: What is your firm’s primary business / industry type?

Top identified industries represented were:

1. Business and Professional Services—29%

2. Manufacturing—Durable Goods—16%

3. Natural Resources and Mining—14%

Many practitioners included in the Business and Professional Services group identified as working in the field of loss prevention consulting or services.

Other categorization included representation from:

•Wholesale/Distribution

•Healthcare

•Manufacturing—Food and Beverage

29%

1%4%

14%

1%1%

3%

16%

11%

3%2%2% 4%

11%Business & Professional Services

Construction

Education

Health Care

Leisure & Hospitality

Life Sciences

Manufacturing ‐ Chemical

Manufacturing ‐ Durable Goods

Manufacturing ‐ Food & Beverage

Natural Resources & Mining

Retail

Transportation

Wholesale/Distribution

Other

Results of the 2015 Ergonomics Practitioner Environmental Scan Survey: Part 1 4

The greatest percentage of respondents—29%—reported they work for organi-zations with 250 or less employees. Where ergonomics was once seen as only on the radar of large organizations, it may be that the bottom-line benefits of good ergonomics are becoming supported by smaller organizations as well. Organi-zations with more than 25,000 employees were the second-most represented group, with 18% of respondents belonging to a large organization.

29%

9% 9%

10%

9% 8%7%

1%

18%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

250 or Less 251 to 500 501 to 1,000 1,001 to 2,500 2,501 to 5,000 5,001 to 10,000 10,001 to20,000

20,001 to25,000

Over 25,000

Q: Including all operations, how many employees work for your organization?

Results of the 2015 Ergonomics Practitioner Environmental Scan Survey: Part 1 5

Q: What best describes your role within your organization?

Those who identified as consultants, or a primary on-site but third-party em-ployee, were the largest group—24%.

If staff, the most-reported role that came with addressing ergonomics was a site-level manager of environmental health and safety—13%.

Other members of the ergonomics or health and safety team were represented in the survey and further responses from those who selected “other” included interior designer, furniture representative, educator and ADA coordinator.

7%

8%

4%

4%

13%

4%

8%

6%

8%

1%

2%

1%

24%

10%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Safety or Ergonomics Team Member / Front  Line Employee

Safety or Ergonomics Team Member  in the Medical  or  Health  ServicesField

Site Level Safety Coordinator / Technician Position

Site Level Ergonomics Coordinator / Technician Position

Site Level Manager  ‐ Safety,  Environmental, and Health  Generalist

Site Level Manager  ‐ Ergonomist

Regional Level/ Corporate ‐ Safety, Environmental, and HealthGeneralist

Regional Level/ Corporate ‐ Ergonomist

Medical / PT / OT

Engineer  / Designer

Operations / Production Management or Supervision

Human Resources

Consultan t

Other

Results of the 2015 Ergonomics Practitioner Environmental Scan Survey: Part 1 6

Q: For how long have you been involved in ergonomics at your current level?

38% of respondents reported that they have been in their current position for more than 10 years, while the smallest percentage—only 12%—has been in their current role for less than a year.

Almost one quarter of those surveyed are practicing ergonomics full time or for more than 75% of their week.

12%

18%

16%

17%

38% Less than 1 year

Between 1‐3 years

Between 3‐5 years

Between 5‐10 years

More than 10 years

13%

14%

17%

17%

16%

24% 0 ‐ 5%

5‐10%

10‐25%

25‐50%

50‐75%

More than 75%

Q: What percent of your week is spent addressing ergonomics issues and tasks?