Ergonomics Today™

ANSI Dismisses Latest Appeal to Withdraw Construction Industry MSD Reduction Standard

July 18, 2008
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Appeals Board Panel today dismissed the latest appeal brought by the Construction Industry Employer Coalition, a coalition of five trade associations of U.S. construction interests, to withdraw the adoption of the approved voluntary consensus standard “reduction of Musculoskeletal Problems in Construction” (ANSI/ASSE A10.40-2007)

New Resource a Tool for Finding Suitable Ergonomics Programs

July 14, 2008
A recent study gives employers a way to predict which ergonomics measures are likely to produce the best results. It gives them the ability to make assumptions based on other people’s experience.

New Merger Poised to Reduce Several Medication Risk Factors for Patients

July 7, 2008
A merger of two rival pharmaceutical companies could prod doctors to switch from handwritten or phoned prescriptions to the e-route. The switch – and a merged database of patient records – could help reduce several types of medication errors.

California Bans Use of Hand-Held Cellphones While Driving

June 30, 2008
On July 1, California joins several other states in banning the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel. Recent research undermines Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contention that the new law will make the state’s roads safer.

American Medical Association Sounds Alarm about Medical Litter Left in Patients

June 23, 2008
The American Medical Association and federal Food and Drug Administration see peril in devices prone to shed parts in patients’ bodies.

Virtual Motorcycle Seen as a Route to Safer, More-comfortable Cruisin'

June 16, 2008
A motorcycle simulator in Britain gives researchers a means of anticipating ergonomics-related flaws that can take the fun out of a long ride.

New Research Shows Why Cell Phones and Driving a Dangerous Mix

June 9, 2008
New research sheds light on the challenge of holding conversations while performing visual tasks such as driving.

Ergonomics Highlights from the AIHce in Minneapolis

June 6, 2008
The AIHce program (May 31-June 5) continued a tradition of including strong ergonomic content with a well-received pre-conference seminar (Making a Business Case for Ergonomics), two Personal Development Courses (Office Ergonomics and Heat Stress), nine sessions in the Technical Program, and numerous ergonomic product exhibitors.

ACGIH® Wins Lawsuit Challenging TLV Occupational Exposure Guidelines

June 4, 2008
A federal judge has dismissed the last of four counts in a lawsuit against ACGIH® that challenged the scientific foundation of Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). Seen as a major victory for occupational health and safety, the dismissal ends four years of litigation, unless the plaintiffs decide to appeal.

Auto Makers Probing Needs of Older Drivers

June 2, 2008
Seniors will soon command a bigger share of automotive sales, a change not lost on automobile manufacturers.

Canadian Health-care Facilities Face Hand-washing Crackdown

May 26, 2008
A new hand-washing initiatives with “teeth” is aimed at cutting the infection rate at Canadian health-care facilities

BCPE to End Certification by Portfolio Review July 30

May 21, 2008
Certification by Portfolio Review is available to accomplished professionals with at least 15 years of ergonomics/human factors/usability work experience. The portfolio option is being discontinued as BCPE positions itself for accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Bicycling Safety Means Minding Ergonomics as Well as the Traffic

May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, was Bike-to-Work Day. It was a reminder of the health benefits of regular bicycling - and of the risks.

2008 Alice Hamilton Award Highlights Construction Ergonomics

May 12, 2008
The 2008 Alice Hamilton Award honors two researchers whose 2007 booklet is designed to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction, one of the most hazardous industries in the United States.

Is Human Error Predicatable, and Therefore Preventable?

May 5, 2008
New brain research suggests some human errors can be predicted, and the ability to predict them opens a door to preventing them.

Risky Music: Anti-noise Law Sees European Orchestras Rethinking Repertoires

April 28, 2008
A new European directive endangers “fortissimo” orchestral compositions. Could the future hold “pianissimo” performances of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”?

International Ergonomics Association and Liberty Mutual Announce Occupational Safety Research Award

April 22, 2008
The award and a cash prize of US$ 10,000 recognizes outstanding original research leading to the reduction or mitigation of work-related injuries and/or to the advancement of theory, understanding, and development of occupational safety research.

Renaissance and Computer-Human Interaction Meet at CHI ’08 in Italy

April 21, 2008
Leonardo da Vinci has been dead for centuries, yet his views on design remained alive for participants at April’s Human-Computer Interaction conference in Florence.

Usability a Useful Test for Green Home Products

April 14, 2008
The 2008 International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago exhibited thousands of environmentally-friendly products. Where does usability -- ergonomics -- fit into the 'green' revolution?

Study: Booking Travel Online is No Vacation

April 7, 2008
Travel agents and airlines are not thinking enough about usability with their websites, according to a new study.