Dear Sir,
Re: Response to Gary king subject study case
It is in reference to the incident related to the employee addressed above. The renowned technician suffered severe back pains while on duty. He has a chronic low back condition for the past twenty-five years. He however claims effectively managing the condition over the years. The subject employee recorded statements on the incident. He seems to believe that the injuries are work related. He has also pointed out potential areas that need to be adjusted in the technical department. This will help create a better working condition for the employees.
The incident was a revelation to the various issues that need to be addressed. In respect to the fair work act 2009, shifts should be reviewed. The shifts should be adjusted to suits the work pressure experienced. Currently, there is an increase in customer visits. This may result to an employee left to manage the workshop alone. The workload will thus increase. A single technician thus cannot effectively do all the work. This may lead to fatigue. Fatigue may eventually lead long term consequences. This may include the severe back ache experienced by the technician. The shifts should be tailored to fix this problem. They should ensure no technician has more workload than they can handle.
The layout of the workshop reported to be unsuitable. The national employment standards demands safe working environments. This facility should thus be employee friendly. This is in respect to the many hours they spend working there (Shinar, 2017). The workshop is the technicians’ primary workstation. The workbench is too high too comfortable work on. The company should introduce benches with adjustable height. This will suit all technicians, as all have varied heights. Adjustable-height working benches will thus ensure a more favorable working environment.
The storage of repair tools should also be reviewed. Currently they are being stored under the bench. This makes their access hard to some employees. They should be relocated to positions that are more favorable. Storage cabinets are the most recommended. This will improve accessibility of the repair tools. It will also be easy to organize the repair tools. This will enhance performance and effectiveness when repairing the coffee machines.
The technicians use the repair van to access customers’ homes. The rides may be long ones at times. The van’s seats should thus be comfortable enough. This however is not the case. The seats are uncomfortable thus being a probable injury-causing thing (Young, 2018). Taking long uncomfortable rides had creates medical challenges. This may include spinal cord complications, back pains and neck pains. The company should thus adopt vans with the right for the employees. The seats should have some basic comfort ability features. Seat shock absorbers, adjustable height and adjustable back incline should be noted. Seats bottom cushions should firm with dense foam. The seats should also have adjustable bilateral arm rests. Adjustable head restraint with lordosis is also key. Training employees is a key requirement by the WHS and OHS acts. The employees should be educated on how to adjust the van. This will ensure that the seats fits their individual physical features. The employees will have comfortable and safe trips in the repair vans.
The working schedules should be flexible and not rigid. This is in reference to the fair work act of 2009.This will assist in adopting rosters that enhance performance. Breaks for example can be alternated. This is better than when all workers break all at once. This ensures that the work continues as others rest. Enough rest will enhance performance. It will also prevent physical strain that may have adverse effects to their health. Some tasks they undertake are repetitive. This thus requires them to stay standing for a long time. Alternating will ensure that the standing duration is reduces. The expected work is done without physically and mentally straining the technicians.
Technological advance should also be applied. This is in line with the WHS act. The act requires the management to maintain and upgrade necessary infrastructure .This will increases efficiency. It will also reduce the workload. Modular component repair should be adopted. It allows repairs to be done onsite (Santos, 2105). Movement and dismantling the machines for repair becomes unnecessary. This hugely reduces the amount of work to be done. Risks of having immediate or long-term injuries are also reduced. This is primarily because the machines weigh up to fifty kilograms. Repairing the machine onsite ensures that the technicians do not physically endanger themselves. Elder employees like Gary King will be greatly advantaged by this strategy. They do not have a lot of energy to constantly move the coffee machines every now and the machines.
Implementation of these changes will positively influence the company. Better working condition will be created for the technicians. This will increase productivity in maintaining and repairing the machines. Increased productivity consequently leads to increased profit for the company. This greatly boosts the financial capability of the company at large. I recommend that the adjustments should be made as fast as possible. This will minimalize the possibility of another employee being injured at the workplace (Young, 2018).
Yours Faithfully
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References
Shinar, D. (2017). Traffic safety and human behavior. Emerald publishing limited.
Santos, E. (2015). Ontology alignment repair through modularization .academic journal. Vol.10 issue 12, p1-19. 19.
Young, Y. (2018). Social behavior and personality; an international journal. Volume 46 issue 7, p1057-1070
