Northrop Grumman Ergonomic Program Reduces Risk and Workers' Comp Costs
1. Northrop Grumman Space Technology
(NGST)
An Ergonomic Intervention Program
Targeted at High Risk Computer Users
80 Libertyship Way, Suite 20
Sausalito, CA 94965
Ph: (415) 332-6433
Applied Ergonomics Conference 2004
Wednesday, March 10, 10-11:30am
Jerry Andis, CEM, EHS Manager, Northrop Grumman Space Technology Sector
Brett Weiss, MPT, Chief Knowledge Officer, Remedy Interactive
2. 2
Agenda
1. NGST 2002 Status
2. 2003 WorkWell Program Summary Data
a) Program Summary
b) Status Update
3. Results to Date
a) Automated Follow-up Results
b) Risk Reduction Measured
c) Employee Satisfaction
d) Workers’ Comp Results
3. 3
NGST 2002 Status
Secondary Concerns:
• Compliance
• Implementation of Proactive Program:
• Scalable (i.e., Large Scale Potential)
• Centralized
Primary Concern:
• Workers’ Compensation Costs:
• Overall Incidence Rate: 2.2
• 40-50% Computer-Related
• Severe Claims Making up 80% of Costs
• Cost/Claim: $16K
• Overall Costs: $2.3M
1
1. Severe claims are claims that involve lost workdays
4. 4
Program Overview – Employee Experience
1) Risk
Assessment
2) Training
4) Immediate
Feedback
(personalized)
3) Re-
Assessment
5. 5
Automated Follow-up & Re-Assessment
5) Ongoing
Automated
Follow-up
(email) at 30
days to
high/mod risk
6) Ongoing
Personalized
Re-Assessment
6. 6
Program Summary (9/02-3/04)
Employees assessed
Employees who have completed
training & received personalized
risk profile summary with
customized recommendations
High & moderate-risk employees
who have received automated
30-day follow-ups
Employees who have reduced
their own risk to low
2800
1200
900
2400
8. 8
Results to Date
1. Automated Follow-up Results
2. Risk Reduction Measured
3. Employee Satisfaction
4. Workers’ Comp Results
9. 9
79% of Automated Follow-up Participants Reduced Their
Own Risk to Low
875
high & mod.
risk
employees
Automated Follow-up Process 185 remained
high / mod.
risk after
follow-up
690 reduced their own
risk to low
Automated Follow-up Results
11. 11
Strong Employee Satisfaction
Employees
who say they
will work more
comfortably:
89%
Employees who
would recommend
WorkWell to a
colleague:
91%
Employees who rated
overall experience a 3-5
(on a scale from 1-5) 93%
97%Employees who
say the program
is user friendly
12. 12
NGST Ergonomic Program Participation
2700
Participants
6300
Non-
Participants
30% of the NGST population has taken part in the
WorkWell program since 9/02
13. 13
Proactive vs. Reactive Claimant
Incurred Costs 2003
Total Costs of Non-
Proactive Claimants:
$457K
Total Costs of
Proactive
Claimants: $18K
Proactive WorkWell users make up only 3% of total
incurred costs in 2003
Total Incurred Costs 2003: $475,359K
1. Proactive = Completed WorkWell prior to submitting claim
2. Through 12/9/03
2
1
14. 14
Total Number of RSI Claims ’00-’03
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2000 2001 2002 2003
Year
NumberofClaims
As expected, with encouragement of early reporting, number
of claims has increased since the rollout of WorkWell
15. 15
Incurred Cost Per RSI Claim 2003
Incurred cost per proactive claim was 75% less than non-
proactive claims; ZERO proactive claims have experienced
been LWDs
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$5,000
$6,000
$7,000
$8,000
Non-proactive Proactive
74%
$2,023
$7,748
1. Proactive = Completed WorkWell prior to submitting claim
2. Through 12/9/03
1
2
1
Avg.CostofClaim
16. 16
Summary
Automation
Centralized Program
Management
Automation and centralized program management have
provided the foundation for NGST program successes to date
1. Large Scale Implementation (2800 Participants)
2. 57% Reduction of High Risk Population
3. Excellent User Satisfaction
(91% Recommend to Colleague)
4. 30% of Group Make up 3% of Incurred Costs
