Ergonomics Management Model with a Focus on Resilience Engineering

Companies have invested in implementing Ergonomic Programs aiming to reduce work related ergonomic risks and diseases and consequently, reduce sick leave costs and indemnities in labor suits. However, it should also be noted that these efforts are focused on reactive measures. In this way, the programs become vulnerable and inconsistent. The purpose of this article is to propose a Ergonomic Management Model based on applying principles of Resilience Engineering. It has been applied in a consumer goods industry in Brazil with 6000 employees, creating ergonomic processes and establishing actions to guarantee the program sustainability based on the concepts of Resilience Engineering. As a result, the practice of anticipating ergonomic risks on all fronts of ergonomics was the main benefit, generating as a socioeconomic impact the promotion of workers’ health, reduction of absences from work and guaranteeing a sustainable ergonomic program.