Participatory Ergonomics in the Red Meat Packing Industry: A Case Study of aCorporation and a Plant

摘要

The effectiveness of the participatory approach was investigated in solvingergonomics problems, particularly related to the upper extremity in the red meat packing industry. The sites selected for study involved two components. The first was the description of a corporate ergonomics program and the second was a demonstration project that examined the activities and performance of two ergonomics teams in a single facility of the Hormel Foods Corporation. The authors conclude that participatory ergonomics teams using structured problem solving methods can effectively manage musculoskeletal hazards to the upper extremities in meat packing.