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The role of ergonomics in CSR  

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a must for many companies, representing a lever for performance in the workplace.  Social, economic or environmental… How can ergonomics have a decisive impact on CSR? In this article, we look at how ergonomics can contribute to a CSR approach.  

CSR: concept and definition 

  

The European Commission defines corporate social responsibility as “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their relations with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis”. In short, CSR means taking sustainable development issues into account in corporate practices and strategies. 

The concept first appeared in the 1950s with the publication of The Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, by Howard Bowen in 1953, which evoked the notion for the first time and put forward the idea that companies are social actors with responsibilities towards society. 

CSR encompasses 3 main pillars:  

  

  • ECONOMIC PILLAR: This pillar focuses on ensuring economic viability for the company and creating added value for stakeholders, while respecting the challenges of sustainable development.  

 

  • SOCIAL PILLAR: This pillar encompasses aspects relating to working conditions and employee well-being; this includes improving quality of life at work, promoting diversity and inclusion, and health and safety.  

 

  • ENVIRONMENTAL PILLAR: This focuses on actions to minimize the company’s ecological footprint and preserve the environment.  

  

Through these different strands, CSR makes it possible to assess the company’s overall performance, taking into account both the positive and negative impacts of the actions undertaken. It’s no longer just a question of focusing on profitability and sales, but of adapting the business model by integrating measures that are both ethical and conducive to sustainable development.  

CSR is not a legal obligation; it’s voluntary for companies. However, some companies are subject to laws and decrees that require them to publish extra-financial reports (or CSR reporting) to “communicate on the social, environmental and societal implications of its activities, as well as on its mode of governance”, according to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.  

The importance of CSR in business  

In 2023, France ranked 4th in the world in terms of CSR. 

Today, Corporate Social Responsibility is a matter of course for many organizations. The benefits of integrating a CSR approach are numerous, and offer obvious advantages, enabling you to… 

  • Anticipate regulatory changes: as CSR is a voluntary commitment, some companies are already prepared for possible regulatory changes… 

  

  • Reduce costs and improve performance: by reviewing operations and prioritizing certain initiatives, costs and performance can be optimized.  

 

  • Improve brand image: CSR commitment is synonymous with trust and credibility, a key asset for a company’s stakeholders.  

 

  • Strengthen your employer brand: CSR can be an attractive factor in recruitment. More and more employees, especially those from Generation Z, are sensitive to this approach, and it can be perceived as a criterion in the choice of a company.  

 

  • Stand out from the competition: in a dense market, the CSR approach can be a real added value and turn into a competitive advantage.  

 

  • Improve working conditions for employees. 

And it’s this last point in particular that is now the main expectation of employees when it comes to CSR.

According to the MEDEF’s 2023 CSR Perception Barometer, Health, Safety and Quality of Life at Work (QWL) are still seen as priority CSR issues for the employees surveyed.

Working conditions and quality of life at work (QWL) appear to be key issues in the social component of CSR.

How can they be fully integrated and continuously improved?

Ergonomics: an essential component of the CSR approach

  

For many organizations, implementing actions to strengthen the social component can be difficult to grasp. This is where ergonomics comes in, as an essential lever for improving employee health and well-being, and promoting this aspect in a sustainable and responsible way.  

  

Today, ergonomists play a key role in improving working conditions and quality of life for employees. Integrating the discipline into the heart of a working environment has demonstrated numerous positive spin-offs: 

  

  • Reduced absenteeism ;  
  • Prevention and reduction of MSD risks;  
  • Improved productivity;  
  • Reduced costs linked to work-related accidents. 
  • …. 

  

Ergonomics is also one of the considerations in the recommendations of the ISO 26000 standard. 

What is ISO 26000?  

ISO 26000 is the first international standard to set out guidelines for a CSR approach based on seven core issues: corporate governance, human rights, labor relations and working conditions, environment, fair practices, consumer issues, communities and local development. For each of these themes, there are more than 36 areas of action. 

Companies following the ISO 26000 guidelines are encouraged to consider ergonomics as an essential component of their CSR. The focus is on working relationships and conditions, and ergonomics can easily be integrated into this, based on the principles of ISO 26800, a complementary standard to ISO 26000.

ISO 26800, entitled “Ergonomics – General approach, principles and concepts” establishes a general framework of fundamental principles and concepts in ergonomics.

“This International Standard describes the general approach to ergonomics and specifies its basic principles and concepts. These are applicable to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, tools, equipment, systems, organizations, services, facilities and environments in order to make them compatible with people’s characteristics, needs and values, and abilities and limitations.

The recommendations provided in this International Standard are intended to improve the safety, operation, effectiveness, efficiency, reliability, availability and maintainability of the design result throughout its life cycle, while preserving and promoting the health, well-being and satisfaction of those involved or affected.

The target users are designers, ergonomists and project managers, as well as managers, workers, consumers (or their representatives) and suppliers. This International Standard also serves as a reference standard for the development of International Standards including ergonomic aspects.”

By integrating these principles into the CSR framework, ISO 26800 can play a key role in improving working conditions and the quality of working life for employees – but not only! Here’s how ergonomics can also be a sustainable resource in the other 2 areas:

 

  • ECONOMIC ASPECT: As mentioned above, ergonomics helps to improve an organization’s economic performance by increasing employee efficiency and productivity; companies can reduce workplace accidents, which in turn lowers the costs associated with absenteeism.

 

  • ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT: Ergonomists help design sustainable work systems, optimizing processes and workstations. The aim is to meet human needs while minimizing environmental impact.

Ergonomics is thus a vector for the commitment an organization can make to its CSR policy: what are you waiting for to take the plunge?

Sources  : 

 

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