Design of a methodology to incorporate Lean Manufacturing tools in risk management, to reduce work accidents at service companies

Abstract

Lean Manufacturing tools were originally developed to improve manufacturing production systems and enhance productivity and quality in organizations. For this reason, they are used more frequently in manufacturing than in service companies. The Ergo-Lean approach applies Lean Manufacturing to the field of Occupational Safety and Health, focusing on reducing activities that do not add value and on reducing the associated muscular-skeletal disorders. The purpose of this study is to integrate Lean Manufacturing tools in risk management to help control work-related accidents. Based on work accident data at a service company, the causes of the accidents were analyzed and the main Lean Manufacturing tools were reviewed and integrated, in order to develop a new methodology for the implementation of these tools to help prevent work-related accidents and diseases and to develop a culture of self-care.