A DORN ergonomics pilot program with dormakaba achieved a 49% average reduction in ergonomic risk across evaluated tasks and environments, with risk reductions ranging from 21% to 90%. The program also produced a 52% average reduction in low-back compression.
The results demonstrate the potential of combining AI-powered ergonomic risk measurement with hands-on ergonomics expertise to identify workplace risks, measure improvement, and help employees move more safely on the job.
dormakaba Shares Ergonomics Pilot Results at NSC 2026
At NSC 2026, Kristin Jarrett from dormakaba presented results from the pilot and highlighted an important lesson from the program: technology can help organizations identify and measure ergonomic risk, but meaningful improvement comes from helping people turn those insights into safer movement.
Throughout the pilot, DORN ergonomists worked directly with dormakaba employees as they implemented new technology, equipment, and behavioral changes.
The team focused on practical improvements employees could apply while performing everyday tasks, including:
- Maintaining a more neutral spine
- Working within the power zone
- Improving body positioning and movement
- Identifying and addressing higher-risk movements and tasks
Measuring Ergonomic Risk with AI-Powered Technology
AI-powered technology served as the measurement engine for the pilot, helping the team quantify ergonomic risk and evaluate whether interventions were producing measurable changes.
Rather than relying on technology alone, the program combined objective measurement with hands-on ergonomics expertise.
This allowed DORN ergonomists and dormakaba employees to use the data to identify opportunities for improvement and then apply practical changes to the way work was performed.
Ergonomics Pilot Results
Across the evaluated tasks and environments, the pilot produced measurable improvements:
- 21%–90% reduction in ergonomic risk across evaluated tasks
- 49% average reduction in ergonomic risk across tasks and environments
- 52% average reduction in low-back compression
- Improvements in power-zone positioning and postural movement
These findings show the value of not only identifying ergonomic risk, but also measuring what happens after an intervention is introduced.
Turning Ergonomic Data Into Safer Movement
Technology can provide organizations with more objective information about how employees move and where ergonomic risks may exist.
But measurement is only part of an effective workplace ergonomics strategy.
The value comes from turning those insights into action.
By pairing AI-powered measurement with hands-on ergonomics expertise, organizations can better understand where risks exist, introduce practical interventions, and evaluate whether those changes are producing meaningful results.
For the dormakaba pilot, that meant working directly with employees to translate ergonomic data into changes in body positioning, power-zone use, posture, and everyday movement.
What AI Could Mean for the Future of Workplace Ergonomics
AI has the potential to make workplace ergonomics increasingly measurable and proactive.
Instead of simply identifying a potential risk, AI-powered ergonomic assessment technology can help teams quantify risk and measure changes over time.
The role of the ergonomist remains critical.
Technology provides the measurement and insights. Ergonomics professionals help interpret those insights, understand the realities of the work being performed, and help employees translate recommendations into practical movement and behavioral changes.
The future of workplace ergonomics isn’t simply about collecting more data. It’s about using better data to make better decisions—and helping people turn those decisions into safer ways of working.
Watch the dormakaba Presentation from NSC 2026
Hear directly from Kristin at dormakaba as she shares results from the ergonomics pilot at NSC 2026 and discusses what the team learned from combining technology, measurement, and hands-on ergonomics.
Build Your 2027 Injury Prevention Strategy
As organizations begin planning for 2027, the dormakaba pilot provides an example of how objective measurement, innovative technology, and hands-on ergonomics expertise can work together to address ergonomic risk.
DORN works with organizations to identify ergonomic risks, implement practical interventions, and build injury prevention strategies around the realities of their workforce and operations. Schedule Your 2027 Injury Prevention Strategy with DORN