Writing Improvement Descriptions

When adding an improvement to a whole-body assessment, the Improvement Description should explain what’s being proposed, why it matters, and how it aligns with ergonomics best practices. This ensures your recommendations are actionable, justifiable, and easy for others to review or implement.

Each description begins with essential information but should also be updated as the project progresses—through planning, implementation, or review. Updates may include research, design changes, meeting notes, or other decisions that improve communication and traceability. Adding these updates directly to the improvement ensures that key information stays visible and tied directly to the improvement itself.

What to include in an Improvement Description

An Improvement Description should contain at least the following three key pieces of information.

1. 1. Benefit to the operator. Describe how the improvement will help the operator perform better. This could include more neutral postures, fewer forceful exertions, improved visibility, or the removal of certain physical stressors.
      
      Example:  Lower the shelf to enable the operator to retrieve the bracket using neutral shoulder, elbow, and hand/wrist postures.
      
      
   2. Relevant design guideline. Refer to the design guideline(s) that supports your recommendation. This helps reinforce why the change matters and connects it to established principles in the software.
      
      Example:  The ideal hand working height should be between 39″ and 48″ from the standing surface.
      
      
   3. Type of change required. End with a simple statement of what kind of action is needed to make the improvement possible, such as fabrication, equipment purchase, reconfiguration, or maintenance.
      
      Example:  This will require adjusting the current shelving and removing any obstructions that may reduce visibility.

What else can you include?

As you continue to refine and implement the improvement, use the Improvement Description and related fields to document other details like these:

• • Product specifications: size, dimensions, materials, safety features, etc.
  • Budget and purchasing info: cost estimates, PO numbers, quotes
  • Notes: Key context, like why one solution was chosen over another

By regularly updating the Improvement Description, you create a detailed and useful record of what’s being changed, why, and how it was achieved.

To see where improvements fit in the overall job assessment process, visit Adding Improvements to a Whole-Body Assessment.

Need help writing a direct cause instead? See Writing Direct Causes.