RICHMOND, Virginia –
According to Defense Logistics Agency Installation Support at Richmond’s Crystal Pauley, your posture, what type of chair you have, how you sit in it and the positioning of your keyboard and computer screen can make a world of difference in the workplace environment. “If you’re sitting wrong at your desk, eight hours a day, 40 hours per week, eventually that’s going to take a toll on your body,” said Pauley, who is the ergonomics program manager at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
Ergonomics involves designing jobs, equipment, and work tasks to fit a person’s physical characteristics and energy limitations. It also considers body dimensions, mobility, and an individual’s stress behavior. Some of the many benefits to working ergonomically are lessening muscle fatigue, greater productivity, and increased efficiency. “We make the work fit the person; versus the person fit the work,” Pauley said.
In March, a team of auditors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) will visit DSCR to review the site to see if it’s eligible for a first star under the Voluntary Protection Program. VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. “It’s where OHSA looks for the best of the best,” said Pauley.
To get ready for this visit from OHSA, the DLA at DSCR put together an ergonomics team, which is made up of volunteers who can conduct ergonomic evaluations for anyone who requests one.
When OHSA auditors arrive in March, they have the option to randomly choose employees to interview as part of the process of qualifying for the VPP star.
Members of the DLA VPP team at DSCR team will be going throughout the installation over the coming weeks and months making sure employees are prepared and ready to answer the OSHA team’s questions for next year’s audit.
DLA Aviation and DLA Installation Support at Richmond’s Occupational Health and Safety policy states that accomplishing the mission in a safe manner will always be our number one priority, from the commander, who is responsible for the overall safety and health of all personal on DSCR, to every director and major office chief, to supervisors and managers to every employee.
For more information, view OSHA tips for
Good Working Positions.