Blending Corporate Ergonomics with European and French Regulations

Abstract

For global corporations with operations in France, a challenge has been to merge the European Union (EU) and French ergonomics regulations with the company health and safety requirements in order to achieve efficient and effective results without unnecessary work. In this case study the company’s corporate ergonomics program focuses on reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and is more detailed and prescriptive than EU or French regulations. This paper details the way a global company with manufacturing operations in France meet both company and governmental regulations related to WMSDs. In 2008 a comparison of the company and EU requirements was completed. This paper describes the process, from the initial audit to the ongoing implementation of the ergonomics program as part of the health and safety management system throughout France. Using the company’s risk reduction process and job assessment tools resulted in compliance with EU and French regulations and standards. It took only a year to see the first jobs evaluated and the reduction of unacceptable WMSDs risk exposures due to ergonomic intervention.

Keywords: Ergonomics Programs, Industrial Ergonomics, Macroergonomics, Participatory Ergonomics, Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, European Ergonomics, French Ergonomics

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100317