June15,1998.docVIP

Title: Herman Miller: Employee Safety Length: 4:15 Synopsis: Herman Miller manufactures office furniture and is known for its ergonomically designed Action Office Cubicle System and Aeron Office Chair. Herman Miller focuses on employee safety in house through both design and safety features and through employee health programs. Classroom Application: Instructors will find this video useful when discussing employee health and safety and its relationship to a company’s bottom line. Bring the discussion to a personal level by asking the students the following questions: How would an ergonomically designed workspace make you safer at work or at school? How would your company benefit from more physically fit and healthier employees? What ideas do you have to improve the safety at your own company or at school? Discussion Questions: Why does Herman Miller focus on ergonomically designed workspaces? Answer: Herman Miller believes that providing employees with ergonomically designed workspaces is the single most important thing a company can do to have the most direct impact on employee health. According to Mark Schuman, Director of Corporate Communications, employees that are comfortable and safe in the workplace perform better. This higher level of performance will then positively impact the company’s bottom line. According to the interview with Tony Cortese, Senior VP for People Services, how does Herman Miller focus on employee health and safety in their own facilities? Answer: According to Tony Cortese, Senior VP for People Services, Herman Miller conducts an ergonomic assessment of each employee’s workstation to ensure that there are no hazards and that the best tools and training are available. They also have instituted a behavior-based safety program wherein the employees help the company perform safety audits, the employees critique each other’s performance from a safety perspective, and the company invites OSHA to review its worksite and all its policies and pro