Boehringer Ingelheim Case Study

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Boehringer Ingelheim Case Study

Our Client

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is a multinational pharmaceutical company.

They are dedicated to the research and development of medical products to improve, sustain and care for life.

BI has a reputation for providing effective products for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart attack, secondary stroke prevention and treatment, high blood pressure, thromboembolic disease, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

BI’s products are supported by a wide range of services designed to help the medical profession deliver the best possible healthcare to patients.

BI has been partnering with Fusion Occupational Health for the past five years, with the aim to provide a tailored occupational health solution to improve the health and well-being of employees.

We provide an on-site provision at the head office in Bracknell, which is supported by a remote case management service for their field service employees.

Boehringer Ingelheim Case Study
ergonomic case study the challenge

The Challenge

Boehringer Ingelheim’s old building had outdated infrastructure that needed modernising.

As a result, the entire building was refurbished and modernised with its 400+ employees moving to temporary offices before relocating to their new offices.

BI needed to implement workplace and ergonomic assessments to ensure the health and comfort of their employees were not compromised, both in the temporary home and in the newly refurbished environment.

The Solution

Our on-site Occupational Health Advisor worked with the in-house health & safety team to review the display screen equipment policy as well as provide research into the type of equipment available and readily accessible on the market.

Our OH Advisor also helped to put in place processes for the health & safety/IT department to procure the recommended equipment. With an improved process direct with suppliers, ordering and installing equipment is now quick and easy.

The equipment on offer has been tried and tested, ranging from smaller items such as ergonomic keyboards, mice, and document holders to chairs and sit-stand desk options.

We have made BI aware of the latest research to stand and move more whilst at work and this has been taken seriously with an increased number of sit-stand desks now in use.

Sophie Mawle, OH Advisor for Fusion OH, has found that, fortunately, many employees have good control over their workload, with the opportunity to take breaks to mobilise or stand in meetings. However, complex tasks such as those which require a high level of keyboard work and reading spreadsheets require a degree of rest for the body (ideally a seated position). Because of this, BI was interested in optimising neutral postures, to prevent unnecessary postural loading.

We now ensure that during every office move, the employee has been provided with a self-assessment display screen equipment form to complete so that any issues can be raised early on.

Senior managers have attended training in DSE set up and this has enabled them to make simple changes to a chair or screen which has resulted in immediately improved employee comfort.

The on-site Fusion OH Advisor has then been able to concentrate on dealing with more complex issues. For example, when there is an underlying health concern which needs further assessment in order to provide the best equipment/support for the problem encountered.

The Results

Boehringer Ingelheim is now able to offer a good selection of ergonomic solutions to meet individual needs and the standard chairs all have a tilt mechanism to promote a dynamic seating position.

We have also provided on-site training to BI selected staff to support others in arranging the workstation and chair to make the working environment more comfortable.

For employees with underlying health concerns who have been unable to gain comfort with the standard chairs, a number of other ergonomic chairs have been sourced which have proved successful in enhancing comfort. There are also options to use a vari-desk (sit-stand option) on a temporary basis, such as following an injury, to further optimise the benefits of treatment like physiotherapy to support recovery. This has also proved successful.

The conclusion that we reached was that one size did not fit all and the workstation assessments have resulted in a bespoke service for individual requirements.

The Feedback

“What could have been a very stressful and uncomfortable time for our employees based at Bracknell has been made much more pleasant. Employees have received the support and advice required every step of the way, with early intervention if any problems have arisen. This, we believe, has resulted in a productive valued workforce. A testament to this is the fact that over 90% of management referrals into Fusion OH made during this time from head office for musculoskeletal reasons were for those employees who have remained in work during issues.”

Linda Runham, HR Specialist, Boehringer Ingelheim