Ergonomics Today™

Companies At Risk from PDA-Related Injuries to Employees

November 13, 2006
PDAs present risks for employers as well as employees, according to a Washington DC lawyer, but they can be minimized.

Participate in World Usability Day on November 14

November 10, 2006
When it comes to tools and services, user-friendliness is all important. November 14, World Usability Day, has been set aside to bring the message home.

Confused Poll Workers – Another Worry on November 7

November 6, 2006
Confused voters are not the only worry on November 7, and it appears confused poll workers could contribute to the problem.

Australian Audit Reveals Some Doctors Are Working Risky Hours

November 3, 2006
Some Australian doctors were shown in a recent audit to be working inhuman hours. Pity the doctors - and their patients.

Cell Phones Linked to Sperm Damage

October 30, 2006
A new study implicates cell phones in infertility, but the findings should be read in context: there is no consensus on the issue of cell phones and medical disorders.

State Court Confirms Power of Washington's Ergonomics Rules

October 27, 2006
Washington's Supreme Court decided in October that the repeal by voters of an ergonomics initiative in 2003 does not undermine the state's authority to address safety hazards.

Engaged Listening Detects What Customers Are Really Saying

October 23, 2006
Skilled listening is an ancient art that has found a new application in technology originally developed for eavesdropping.

Pubs, Other Landmarks Could be Answer to Satnav Distraction

October 20, 2006
Pubs, traffic lights and other landmarks may be the answer to the distractions associated with satnavs, the popular in-car satellite navigation systems.

"5 Why?"

October 16, 2006
When they have a problem to solve, organizations frequently address only the symptoms. The "5 Why?" strategy steers them to the root cause, the source of effective measures.

Enjoyment from Apple’s iPod May Come at a Price

October 13, 2006
If experts who regard the iPod as a health hazard are on the mark, suing the maker, Apple, could become as popular as the iconic music player.

Safe Patient Lifting Legislation Makes Progress

October 9, 2006
The lifting, transferring and repositioning of patients is an unavoidable and dangerous reality of hospital work. Legislative efforts to make the activity safer are gaining ground.

Aviation Safety Techniques Could Be Used For Medical Safety

October 6, 2006
Could the health care profession benefit from ergonomic measures used successfully to prevent accidents by the high-risk aviation industry? One company says "Yes."

New FAA Standard Aims to Prevent Airport Runway Accidents Ergonomically

October 2, 2006
A new FAA standard takes an ergonomic approach to reducing the risk of crashes and collisions on airport runways.

Ford Fattens Computer Models

September 23, 2006
America's waistline has grown in recent decades, and Ford Motor Company has established a first by taking this into account in its design processes.

NIOSH: Order-Pickers Could Be at Risk If Production Volume Increases

September 15, 2006
NIOSH ergonomists recently evaluated order pickers at a building supplies warehouse and their environment to assess the risk of back and repetitive motion injuries. The news was good - for the present.

Flex Time Still Winning Plaudits, but Study Points to Misgivings

September 11, 2006
Flex time – the system hailed as a way to raise productivity, lower overtime costs, decrease tardiness and absenteeism and retain staff - flourishes in at least two countries, but against a general picture of decline.

Pioneer in Ergonomic Seating, William Stumpf, Died August 30

September 6, 2006
An ergonomics pioneer who wasn't an ergonomist, industrial designer William Stumpf died at 70 on August 30.

Pharmacogenetics Matches Medication to Individual Needs

September 4, 2006
Pharmacogenetics is still controversial, but it showing promise as a more effective and less costly way to treat disease with drugs than traditional methods.

New Products Point to Design Direction for Man-machine Interfaces

September 1, 2006
There are few places where ergonomic principles are more crucial than in man-machine interfaces, and three recent product releases hint at where the interface industry is headed.

Experts Issue More Health Warnings Against Sexy High Heels

August 28, 2006
Sexy stiletto heels give women a lift - at a price. Experts say they should carry a health warning. Now two doctors in Britain are saying alcohol and high heels don't mix.