Full-Shift Ergonomics: Capturing Complete Data for Safer Workplaces

Blog by: Alexa Shelley, Associate Ergonomist and Customer Success Manager

Traditional assessment methods rely on single-point observations and evaluations, offering a brief glimpse into an employee’s working conditions. While these snapshot techniques, such as computer vision, do provide valuable insights, they fall short in capturing the full spectrum of ergonomic risks that can accumulate over the workday. Additionally, these traditional methods are time consuming to collect, analyze, and report on. 

This blog post details  the transformative benefits of utilizing advanced technology for continuous, full-day ergonomic data capture. By exploring the limitations of traditional methods and the emerging capabilities of long-duration cumulative risk assessments, we’ll uncover how comprehensive data collection can lead to more accurate assessments, proactive interventions, and ultimately, safer and more productive work environments.

The primary constraint of traditional methods and computer vision, is the necessity for an assessor to be physically present during the entire duration of the assessment. The presence of an assessor can introduce challenges that may skew the data collection:

• The Hawthorne Effect is a pattern where humans alter or modify their behaviour in response to an awareness that they are being observed. In the workplace, this may cause an employee to perform the task how they think the assessor would like it to be done, instead of how they would typically work. 
• The Observer Bias is any kind of discrepancy from the truth while performing an assessment. The Observer Bias may be unintentional, but personal preconceptions or experiences with certain tasks may cause an assessor to skew the data.  

In addition to the challenges presented above, these traditional evaluations are often limited to just a few minutes and cover only a small sample of employees. These approaches miss out on the cumulative effects of repetitive motions and varying postures throughout the day, offering an incomplete picture of the workplace’s ergonomic challenges.

The use of technology in the field of ergonomics has revolutionized data collection, making it possible to digitize and continuously capture full, 8-12 hour shift assessments. This advancement enables a more comprehensive evaluation of work as done vs. work as perceived, offering a depth of insight that traditional methods cannot match. By leveraging continuous data collection, businesses can gain a more accurate and holistic understanding of ergonomic risks, leading to more effective interventions and healthier work environments. Here are the key benefits of full shift data captures:

1. Capturing the Full Range of Activities 

• Diverse Tasks and Movements: 
  • Workers engage in a variety of tasks, each presenting different ergonomic risks;
  • Continuous data collection captures this diversity, identifying risks associated with all activities rather than just those observed during a brief snapshot.
  • This comprehensive approach ensures that all potential hazards are recognized and addressed.
• Dynamic Postures: 
  • Workers’ postures and movements change throughout the day; 
  • Longer data capture reveals both static and dynamic postures, helping to identify patterns that might lead to musculoskeletal disorders. 
  • By understanding these patterns, businesses can implement targeted interventions to improve workplace ergonomics
• Complex Environments
  • It is not always possible or easy to get a camera or an assessor to accurately capture the risk of those working at heights, in confined spaces, remotely in the field, or solo in the field.
  • Technologies like multi-point wearable sensors enable both continuous data collection, and data collection in complex environments that is unachievable by traditional methods.
• Day-to-Day Variability: 
  • Workers’ activities and ergonomic risks can vary from day to day; 
  • Longer data capture over multiple days can account for this variability, providing a more accurate assessment of typical ergonomic risks.
  • This comprehensive data helps in designing interventions that are effective in real-world conditions, rather than those based on limited observations.

2. Identifying Cumulative Stress

• Repetitive Strain Injuries: 
  • Repetitive tasks might not seem harmful in short durations, but over a full day, their cumulative effect can lead to significant strain.
  • Continuous data collection allows for the understanding of the relationships that exist between tasks and helps in identifying the cumulative risk. For example, traditional methods might take a snapshot of one task, potentially failing to account for the risk of the tasks performed before and after.
  • Learn more about RSI from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety here.

3. Avoiding Observer Bias and Altered Behavior

• Natural Behavior: 
  • Knowing that they are being observed can cause workers to alter their behavior, leading to data that does not accurately represent the true working conditions (Hawthorne Effect). 
  • Continuous, unobtrusive assessments capture objective, unaltered behavior, providing a realistic view of ergonomic risks. 
  • This ensures that the data collected truly reflects the everyday working conditions and is not accidentally biased by the assessor.

The integration of advanced technology for continuous full-day ergonomic data capture represents a significant leap forward in workplace health and safety. By overcoming the limitations of traditional snapshot assessment techniques and leveraging comprehensive data collection, businesses can gain a thorough understanding of the diverse activities, cumulative stresses, and natural behaviors of their employees. This approach not only enhances the accuracy of ergonomic risk assessments but also facilitates proactive interventions tailored to the work as it is actually done. Ultimately, investing in full shift data capture technology leads to safer, healthier, and more productive work environments, where employees appreciate the support from employers to fully understand the ergonomic risks at play. Embracing these technological advancements is essential for any organization committed to fostering a culture of well-being and efficiency.

To learn more about how LifeBooster can help you unlock the full picture, contact us today!