Affiliations: Principal Ergonomist, WorksOut, Edinburgh, UK | Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Geel, Belgium
Note: [] Corresponding author: Margaret Hanson, Principal Ergonomist,
WorksOut, 41 St Bernard's Crescent, Edinburgh, EH4 1NR, UK. E-mail: Margaret@worksout.co.uk
Abstract: A project undertaken in the Central Cleaning Department of Janssen,
a Johnson and Johnson pharmaceutical company, demonstrates how ergonomics,
environmental and industrial hygiene risks and quality concerns can be tackled
simultaneously. The way equipment was cleaned was re-designed by an in-house
cross-functional team to ensure a 'clean, lean and green' process. Initiatives
included a new layout of the area, and new work processes and equipment to
facilitate cleaning and handling items. This resulted in significant
improvements: all ergonomics high risk tasks were reduced to moderate or low
risk; hearing protection was no longer required; respirator requirement reduced
by 67%; solvent use reduced by 73%; productivity improved, with 55% fewer
operator hours required; and quality improved 40-fold. The return on investment
was estimated at 3.125 years based on an investment of over �1.5 million
(2008 prices). This win-win intervention allowed ergonomics, environmental,
industrial hygiene, productivity and quality concerns all to be addressed.
Keywords: Green ergonomics, process redesign, environmental benefit
