Establishing ergonomic and back-friendly working practices in organisations – the BGW Ergo-Coach programme

This case study describes the BGW Ergo-Coach programme, an initiative developed in Germany in 2023 by the social accident insurance provider BGW to promote ergonomic and back-friendly work practices in health and social care (HeSCare) organisations.

The initiative combines structured training for selected workers (Ergo-Coaches) with targeted consulting for organisational leadership. It aims to embed ergonomic principles into daily routines and organisational culture. Ergo-Coaches are trained to support their colleagues directly, while management is engaged early on to ensure long-term sustainability and strategic alignment.