Ergonomics Today™

Obituary: Hal W. Hendrick

May 17, 2011
Hal W. Hendrick, one of the greatest contributors to the field of ergonomics and human factors, passed away May 13, 2011.

Ergonomics Roundup: Office Layout; Railroad Ergonomics Law Suit; Healthcare; So-Called Ergonomic Products

May 11, 2011
A roundup of ergonomics in the news, including a railroad employee that's suing his employer for not having a comprehensive ergonomics program, evidence of the expansion of ergonomics in the healthcare industry, open vs. closed office layouts, an "ergonomic scratcher" [for cats!?], and an "ergonomic exercise chair."

Students: Apply for the Dieter W. Jahns Student Practitioner Award

May 5, 2011
The Foundation for Professional Ergonomics (FPE) is accepting applications for the 2011 Dieter W. Jahns Student Practitioner Award. The award is given to the student (or group of students) for an Ergonomics project that demonstrates the major practice areas of rgonomics: Analysis, Design, and Evaluation.

HFES to Host "Overview of BCPE Certification" Webinar

May 5, 2011
Do you know someone interested in BCPE certification? Does he or she have questions about the certification process? They are invited to attend The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s “Overview of BCPE Certification” webinar on Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00-10:30 a.m. Pacific / 10:00-11:30 a.m. Mountain / 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Central / 12:00 noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern.

1st International Scientific-Practical Conference "Contemporary Ergonomics and Business 2011": October 7, 2011

May 4, 2011
This year Latvian Ergonomics Society (LES) celebrates 5th anniversary. Over the past five years LES has unified more than 50 members of various professions, published many books, booklets and guidelines in ergonomics field that has stimulated ergonomics scientific and practical development in Latvia as well as understanding in society about ergonomics significance in human quality of life.

National HealthCare Ergonomics Conference: June 7-8, 2011

May 4, 2011
This event offers the opportunity to share information and evidence-based practices and learn cost effective and practical health care ergonomics strategies to address patient and employee safety issues. It will be especially especially valuable to health care administrators and managers, safety, health and ergonomics professionals, nurses, aides & therapists, safe patient handling & safety committee members, support services staff, union representatives, educators and facility designers and managers.

Sit-to-Stand Workstations -- Farsi Translation

May 3, 2011
Volunteer translator Tera Rezapour has translated the Ergonomics Today article "Sit-To-Stand Workstations" into the Farsi.

Michigan Fights Workplace Ergonomics

April 21, 2011
Workplace ergonomics takes a beating in the USA State of Michigan as the legislature and governor pass a new law prohibiting the promulgation of ergonomics related workplace standards. Is it time for the ergonomics community to finally put politics aside and focus on proving our value to society?

More Articles Translated into Spanish and Farsi

April 7, 2011
Volunteer translators Cesar Perez and Tara Rezapour have contributed new translations. The Ergonomics Today article "New Study: Time Spent Sitting Linked to Higher Risk of Death" is now available in Spanish, and "The World’s First Exoskeletal Arm Support System" is now available in Farsi. We also thank translators Cesar Perez and Panos Gourgouras for their contributions, and call for other translators to assist with additional languages. We now have articles translated into Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Farsi, Greek and Spanish.

Are These Products Ergonomic?

April 6, 2011
There's been a lot of talk within the ergonomics community lately about the use of the word "ergonomic(s)" or "ergonomically designed" in product marketing claims. There's an evolving consensus that the ergonomics community "needs to do something," but what exactly needs to be done to protect the public from dubious or false claims remains to be seen. Peter Budnick reviews a variety of products being marketed as ergonomic and poses some interesting questions to stimulate your thoughts.

Voluteers Translate Ergoweb Article into Spanish and Greek

March 23, 2011
Cesar Perez and Panos Gourgouras volunteered their time and resources to develop Spanish and Greek language translations of our recent article "Ergonomists Without Borders: 2010 Review; Plans for 2011".

The World’s First Exoskeletal Arm Support System

March 23, 2011
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equipois Inc., designer and manufacturer of the zeroG® mechanical arm technology, debuted the x-Ar™, the world’s first exoskeletal arm support system for manual tasks, at the Applied Ergonomics Conference in Orlando, Florida. Designed to assist with a wide range of activities in industries where people work with their arms outstretched for long periods of time, the x-Ar simply attaches to a human’s arm and becomes, in essence, a formidable mechanical arm, providing dynamic support throughout the user’s range of motion, while significantly minimizing fatigue and discomfort.

Conclusion: What’s the Hubbub About Ball Chairs? Are They Really Ergonomic?

March 9, 2011
This is the final article in a series started by guest contributor Ian Chong. In the first two articles Ian shares the thought process he and an informal task force of professionals and users from various backgrounds as they debated the merits of using a fitness / exercise ball as a substitute for an office task chair, or more specifically, the merits of calling such an intervention 'ergonomic'. The series continues to generate a great deal of interaction and comment from the Ergoweb Community and beyond. Read on to learn their conclusions ...

Volunteers Translate Ergoweb Articles into Farsi and Chinese -- More Languages Sought

March 9, 2011
Ergoweb Community members Tara Rezapour and Dr. Yung-Hui (Terrence) Lee are the first contributors to what we hope will be many more translations of selected Ergoweb articles. Both volunteered their time and resources to develop Farsi, Chinese and Simplified Chinese language translations of our recent article Ergonomists Without Borders: 2010 Review; Plans for 2011, and Tara also translated an article summarizing a sitting research study into Farsi. Read on to see their translations and learn how you can contribute to growing the reach and influence of ergonomics around the world.

The 2011 Applied Ergonomics Conference & Expo

February 2, 2011
GOErgo, the Global Organization of Ergonomics, presents the 14th annual Applied Ergonomics Conference (AEC). GOErgo is a worldwide resource for the ergonomics profession dedicated solely to the support of the profession and individuals involved with improving workplace performance, quality, sustainability, and employee availability.

Part 2: What’s the Hubbub About Ball Chairs? Are They Really Ergonomic?

February 2, 2011
This is the first follow-up article in a series started by guest contributor Ian Chong. In his first article, Ian wondered whether it is "just a fad to replace $800 office chairs with a $24.99 as seen on TV type of ball?" Or is using an exercise ball as a chair really an ergonomic intervention that professionals have overlooked? To answer the questions, Ian polled an informal task force consisting of "some users, Certified and Associate Ergonomists, physical therapists, engineers, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists -- all professionals and all, not surprisingly, with opinions." Read on to learn their results ...

OSHA Backs Down on MSD Recordkeeping; Michigan Governor to Fight Ergonomics Regulation

January 26, 2011
OSHA has "temporarily" withdrawn its proposal to restore a column on the work-related musculoskeletal disorders on employer injury and illness logs (300 logs). Newly elected Michigan Governor Rick Snyder vows to fight an ergonomics regulation in his own state, citing it as an example of mandatory and overreaching regulation that drives away employers.

Ergonomists Without Borders: 2010 Review; Plans for 2011

January 19, 2011
Still in its formative stages, Ergonomists Without Borders (a project of the Foundation for Professional Ergonomics) had a very productive 2010. A number of milestones were achieved last year and the future is looking bright for 2011. Here’s a re-cap and a look ahead ...

Long term use of the Fitness Ball in the Worksite Setting: A Survey of Administrative Office Workers

January 13, 2011
Guest contributor Eric Durak throws his hat into the debate over the use of balls as chairs by sharing an internal survey study he and colleagues conducted at the University of Santa Barbara. Their focus was not ergonomics per se; their objective was to conduct a survey of staff that had used the ball over longer time frames in order to see if the ball had any impact on work status and any postural changes. They report positive results.

Ergonomic Patient Handling Equipment Startup Technimotion™ Purchased by KCI

January 11, 2011
The market for ergonomically designed technology is heating up. In this example, a safe patient handling equipment startup company, Technimotion™, was purchased by KCI, a global medical technology company, even before their first product hit the market. They describe their products as "innovative and ergonomic patient handling systems for acute and post-acute patient care."