Making tires is exacting work that involves a lot physical labor pushing, pulling and lifting. The potential for injuries is great unless workers know how to carry out their tasks with proper methods and equipment. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has therefore prioritized training in ergonomics.

At its Fayetteville, North Carolina, plant, Goodyear’s ergonomics training took steps forward when the safety team launched a “push, pull, lift” campaign to teach best practices for these three kinds of work. The team invited volunteers from the workforce to learn bet practices and become “safety coaches” who would demonstrate methods during training sessions set up on the plant floor. Employees were highly engaged immediately began working more safely, so the team concluded that hands-on training was effective method to continue and expand.

The company set up an “ergonomics sandbox” at the Fayetteville facility to continue the ergonomics training and provide an area for practice. The are features equipment installed to simulate the movement of materials on the job. Originally, the ergonomics sandbox was set up just for the assembly workers, but as other work groups learned of it, they began asking to use it well. Goodyear added more hands-on learning modules and began making the training area available to the rest of its 2,000 Fayetteville workers.

With the ergonomics sandbox, Goodyear continued using safety coaches-employees who receive in-depth training so they can help their coworkers work safely. Because the coaches do the same jobs, they are credible when they show how to avoid injury. The company also contracts with physical therapist and his assistant and his assistant to provide training to employees in the ergonomics sandbox and one-on-one coaching and feedback at employees’ workstations.

The leaders of Goodyear’s safety program say the biggest challenge with this training program has been keeping up with employees’ demand to participate. Employees use the ergonomics sandbox not only for basic safety training, but also to try out ideas for improving safe use of the plant ‘s machinery. The payoff has been reductions in accident rates and in the severity of accidents. Based on the success in Fayetteville, the company committed to offering similar facilities at six more plants in North America and Europe.

1) Based on the information given how did Goodyear link its ergonomics training to its business needs?