title: Chemical cleaning re-invented: clean, lean and green.
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.
authors.affiliation: Principal Ergonomist, WorksOut, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), Geel, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vangeel
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D004345:Drug Industry; D006804:Ergonomics; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D006796:Household Work / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D058996:Quality Improvement; D017751:Safety Management
keywords: Green ergonomics; environmental benefit; process redesign