An economic evaluation of a participatory ergonomics process in an auto parts manufacturer

ProblemWe assess the costs and consequences of a participatory ergonomics process at a Canadian car parts manufacturer from the perspective of the firm.MethodRegression modeling was used with interrupted time series data to assess the impact of the process on several health measures. Consequences were kept in natural units for cost-effectiveness analysis, and translated into monetary units for cost-benefit analysis.ResultsThe duration of disability insurance claims and the number of denied workers' compensation claims was significantly reduced. The cost-effectiveness ratio is $12.06 per disability day averted. The net present value is $244,416 for a 23-month period with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 10.6, suggesting that the process was worth undertaking (monetary units in 2001 Canadian dollars).DiscussionOur findings emphasize the importance of considering a range of outcomes when evaluating an occupational health and safety intervention.Impact on industryParticipatory ergonomics process can be cost-effective for a firm.