Ergonomics Today™

A Strategy for Human Factors/Ergonomics as a Discipline and Profession (Reprint)

September 19, 2012
Ergoweb's Peter Budnick reviews and offers his opinions on a recent report by The Future of Ergonomics Committee, under the direction of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA). The report summarizes a strategic initiative for the world-wide promotion of the ergonomics discipline and profession in order to reach global excellence in HFE (human factors and ergonomics). The report does a nice job of summarizing the field of ergonomics, and specifies numerous specific values we can and should produce.

All About Keyboard Trays (Reprint)

September 13, 2012
In this article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, guest contributor Janet Peterson provides a concise, useful guide to keyboard trays as a means to add adjustability to a fixed height desk or work surface. She provides actionable advice on when a keyboard tray may be the right solution, what "must-have" features to look for, and which optional features will improve workstation ergonomics. She also offers considerations for corner and "U" shaped work stations, and provides wise words of caution regarding keyboard trays advertised as "sit/stand" or "sit-to-stand".

Improving the Occupant Experience in LEED Buildings: It’s Time for Ergonomics (Reprint)

September 6, 2012
In this article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, guest contributors Linda Miller and Lucy Hart provide an update on the emergence of ergonomics as a points category in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system. Over a decade ago, a coalition of building industry leaders in the U.S. created building design and construction guidelines for the environmental assessment of buildings. The LEED Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based standard that evaluates the environmental performance of a building over its entire life cycle. The primary goal of LEED is to promote building practices that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy for its building occupants, and Miller and Hart explain how ergonomics is gaining a solid foo

Carol Stuart-Buttle Appointed as New BCPE Executive Director

September 5, 2012
The Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE) announces the hiring of Carol Stuart-Buttle, MS, CPE as its new Executive Director.

Wellness: Why Ergonomists Need to Get Involved (Reprint)

August 22, 2012
In this article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, guest contributor Jill Kelby makes a case for ergonomists need to at least educate themselves, if not become actively involved, in emerging government initiatives wrapped around the concept of "wellness." As she explains, initiatives by the USA based NIOSH and NPC (National Prevention Council) appear to be co-opting ergonomics terminology and methods under the banner of "wellness," yet her research suggests that ergonomists have not been included or consulted in the development of these initiatives. She makes a case for why it should concern you, as well, and calls ergonomists to action.

Study: Night Shift Impacts on Productivity and Health

August 2, 2012
In this study, reviewed by contributor Tim Villnave and republished from The Ergonomics Report, researcher J Arendt suggests that while night work may have its advantages, his review of the literature indicates there is a price to pay relative to work productivity and personal health.

Examples: Rehabilitation Ergonomics in Action

July 26, 2012
In this article, which originally in The Ergonomics Report, Don Bloswick, a professor in in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Utah, shares a variety of creative rehabilitation ergonomics applications he and his students have developed, including a tricycle designed to provide leg exercises for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP); an off-road walker allowing children with CP greater outdoor mobility; a wheelchair track device that allows wheelchair users to navigate on sand, snow and other rough terrain; foot and arm-lever propelled wheelchairs; and a paragliding system for people with disabilities. If you think ergonomics is only about preventing musculoskeletal injuries, this will open your eyes to new horizons.

Ergonomics - It's Still the Right Thing to Do

July 18, 2012
In this article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, contributor Phil Jacobs makes the case that ergonomics is the right thing to do.

Sitting On Office Chairs - Are We Doing It All Wrong?

July 12, 2012
In this reprint from The Ergonomics Report, Tim Villnave reviews an article by Nigel Corlett that challenges the pervasive views about optimal sitting posture. Is sitting with a 90 degree hip angle really a good idea?

Ergobuyer Now Offers CAPTIV Wireless Data Collection and Analysis System

July 3, 2012
Ergobuyer® is now pleased to offer the CAPTIV assessment tools for workplace analysis and ergonomics, with an exciting range of fully wireless sensors, video analysis and data processing software.

Macroergonomics is Better Economics - an Interview with the late Hal Hendrick

June 28, 2012
In this reprint from The Ergonomics Report archives, journalist Jennifer Anderson interviewed the late Hal W. Hendrick - the "Macroergo Pioneer" - who shared his insights and provided examples demonstrating why good ergonomics is good economics, a theme that continues to resonate today.

Absenteeism/Presenteeism Alone Provides a Business Case for an Ergonomics Programs

June 21, 2012
This research review by guest contributor Tim Villnave, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report archives, demonstrates that a company’s bottom line can be optimized by appreciating the full cost of health conditions and including health enhancement interventions aimed at reducing absenteeism/presenteeism.

Checklists Improving Outcomes for ICU and Surgical Patients

June 7, 2012
In this article, originally published in 2009 in The Ergonomics Report, journalist Jennifer Anderson describes a campaign to persuade intensive care physicians and surgeons that the humble checklist offers an effective means of reducing medical errors and complications. The World Health Organization added its weight to the effort. Has your hospital implemented such basic, necessary and straightforward ergonomics as a means to improve patient care and outcomes?

Innovative Wound Care Device Wins the IEHF Ergonomics Design Award

May 31, 2012
Ease of use and patient satisfaction were just two of the factors that influenced the Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (IEHF) to award their 2012 Ergonomics Design Award (EDA) to the V.A.C.Via™ Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System. See this press release for details of the product and the EDA Award.

Functional Movement Screening (FMS) Not Predictive of MSDs in Military Study

May 31, 2012
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are among the leading causes of morbidity among working aged adults and armed service members. The most common cause for medical evacuation in the Iraq war was an MSD, and MSDs are also quite common in basic training. Functional Movement Screening (FMS) is thought by many to offer a new paradigm for predicting MSDs. However, in this study, the first large scale to test the predictive validity of this hypothesis, the results indicate FMS is not a reliable predictor of future injury, or at least not in the military population studied. This article is republished from The Ergonomics Report.

Decreased Productivity Related to Psychosocial Risk Factors

May 16, 2012
Republished from The Ergonomics Report, this article reviews a study that identifies psychosocial risk factors that predict worker absenteeism and presenteeism. Psychosocial risk factors of work demands, social climate, and employee commitment to the organization were related to sickness absence in a prospective study of 2095 Swedish employees. The 3.5 year investigation found that when companies improved these risk factors, sickness absence was reduced.

Towards a 21st Century Approach to Government Regulation — A New Regulatory Model for OSHA

May 10, 2012
Drawing on 40 years of his own experience -- and noting that last year was OSHA's 40th anniversary -- well-known ergonomist Dan MacLeod presents his vision for OSHA reform, particularly when it comes to ergonomics. "During this time, OSHA generated striking improvements in working conditions, but has to my mind been simultaneously plagued by its approach to enforcement ... My experience gives me a sense of optimism that there are better ways to regulate industry. The premise of ergonomics is that with good design we can simultaneously improve human well being and increase overall efficiency. I suspect this principle applies to Federal regulations and agencies as much as it does to powered hand tools and production lines."

From The Ergonomics Report Archives: Profits, Not Compliance, Will Drive Ergonomics

May 2, 2012
This 10 year old article, republished with permission from ErgoWeb's subscription-based The Ergonomics Report, remains highly relavent today, and the title says it well: Profits, Not Compliance, Will Drive Ergonomics.

Deadline Nearing: Submissions for 2012 Dieter W. Jahns Student Practitioner Award

May 2, 2012
Pass the word -- submissions for the 2012 Dieter W. Jahns Student Practitioner Award are due by May 31, 2012. Submissions for this prestigious award can be made individually or as a group. The award is open, world wide, to students (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Ergonomics and Ergonomics-related programs. Students who have completed their graduate degrees in the past year are also eligible.

Ergonomics-Related Disorders Included in the International Classification of Diseases

April 25, 2012
Contributor Philip Jacobs finds a series of ‘Overexertion and strenuous and repetitive movements or loads’ codes included in the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), but notes that there is no use of the word 'ergonomics' (or the 'E' word, as he jokingly calls it in this short article) anywhere in the classification system.