Ergonomics Today™

Next Big International Ergonomics Conference Gearing Up for 2003

June 18, 2002
Start making plans now to attend the XVth Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, to be held in Seoul, Korea, August 24-29, 2003.

OSHA Announces Grocery Stores and Poultry Processing Next to Receive Guidelines

June 14, 2002
Grocery stores and poultry processing will be the focus of the next two sets of industry-specific guidelines to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

User Anthropometry Not Always Considered in Crash Safety Testing

June 12, 2002
Heavier people are more likely to be killed or seriously injured in car accidents than lighter people. End user population may not be accurately represented in scrash safety testing.

Passenger Wins Suit Over Airplane Seating Space

June 10, 2002
A passenger won approximately $800 after suing an airline over the "intolerable" lack of seated space.

Ergonomics Regulations Proposed to Address Children's Heavy Backpacks

June 7, 2002
Two states, California and New Jersey, are looking to pass laws intended to protect school children from carrying backpacks that are too heavy.

Commentary: Ergonomics Is Not About Stretching Programs--Reprint

June 4, 2002
I hear about stretching exercise programs being used as an ergonomics intervention, and it causes me to pause. Is a program based on stretching exercises really an effective and valid ergonomics approach? My answer is "no," for two reasons.

Gloves Affect Grip Force

June 3, 2002
Research at the School of Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Osaka, Japan, continues to confirm what ergonomists teach about grip force and gloves.

New Guideline on Ergonomics of Machinery Design Released

May 30, 2002
The European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (TUTB) has released a new document titled, "Risk estimation for musculoskeletal disorders in machinery design -integrating user perspective".

New Ergonomics Conference to Debut in June

May 29, 2002
The producers of the National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition, will launch The First Annual Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition June 25th-27th at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Ergoweb Supports Debut of New Eastern Ergonomics Conference

May 28, 2002
Ergoweb sponsors The First Annual Eastern Ergonomics Conference and Exposition June 25th-27th, 2002, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Study Suggests Boring Work may be Deadly Work

May 27, 2002
New research suggests that people who work in jobs where they have little input in what work to do and how to go about doing it tend to die earlier than employees given more decision-making opportunities.

Grants Available for Ergonomics Training

May 24, 2002
Proposals are being accepted for approximately $6.6 million in grants to nonprofit organizations for safety and health, including ergonomics, training under the Susan Harwood Training Grants program.

ACGIH Settles TLV Lawsuits

May 22, 2002
ACGIH develops TLVs and BEIs as guidelines to assist in the control of health hazards. While TLVs and BEIs are recognized guidelines around the world, they are not law and carry no legal enforcement.

Test Your Ergonomics Knowledge: Occupational Ergonomics

May 20, 2002
Test your occupational ergonomics knowledge by answering the following questions taken from Ergoweb's Computer Based Ergonomics Training Course.

HFES Joins IEEE to Create Voting Equipment Standard

May 20, 2002
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) has joined the initiative to create a new technical voting equipment standard underway at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE-SA).

International Truck Continues Ergonomics Trend

May 15, 2002
International Truck and Engine continues to implement good ergonomics with a team approach to ergonomics, production and safety.

Secretary Chao Speaks about Ergonomics Regulations at Small Business Week

May 15, 2002
Chao says administration's approach to ergonomics is good for small businesses.

Genetic Testing and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Settlement Final

May 9, 2002
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. agreed to pay $2.2 million to 36 employees who unknowingly were part of genetic sampling allegedly for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome predisposition.

Using Checklists to Evaluate Risk Factors

May 8, 2002
How do you identify and document the presence of risk factors? One way is through the use of checklists.

Citations for Workplace MSDs and the California State Standard

May 6, 2002
Data shows that over 100 citations were given for violating the state's workplace ergonomic rules. These workplaces incurred proposed penalties totaling more than $180,000.