Just Having a Safety Committee Is Not Enough
August 30, 2010
A recent RAND Corporation study of Pennsylvania firms that had state Certified Safety Committees showed mixed results in reducing company injury rates. The study found that employers that joined the CSC program did not experience a reduction in lost work time injury/illness rates when compared to similar firms who were non-CSC participants.

Factors Affecting Safe Patient Handling Behavior Among Critical Care Nurses
August 17, 2010
A survey based study of critical care nurses shows that most still manually perform patient lift and transfer tasks, creating a strikingly high level of workplace risk in relation to patient handling tasks. However, safe practices are followed when efective management characteristics are in place.

Study: Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector Injury Rates Higher Than General Private Industry
August 4, 2010
Who knew? The wholesale and retail trade sector, usually thought of as low risk industry, instead shows a higher rate of injury/illness and overexertion related disabling disorders than general private industry, according to this NIOSH analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

I Really Hate Being Lied To
July 27, 2010
Guest contributor Ian Chong says, "You know, I really hate being lied to - especially by ill informed sleazy salesmen who are trying to sell me some snake oil touting features and benefits that are either non-existent ... the term “ergonomically designed” is without a doubt an insidious term used by those with a massive advertising budget who would push products onto those unaware."

Amendments to Americans with Disabilities Act Could Support Ergonomic Recommendations
July 19, 2010
Ergonomics practitioners should understand the Amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, known as Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA), which where enacted by the US congress in 2009. The ADAAA clarifies key definitions and is intended to more accurately reflect the intent of the original law, and may provide legal authority for certain ergonomic interventions.

Medical Researchers Challenge Effectiveness of Ergonomic Interventions
July 14, 2010
Researchers in the Netherlands reviewed the ergonomics scientific base (1988 through 2008) looking for studies investigating the effectiveness of physical and organizational interventions. They identified only 10 studies that met their stringent criteria, and those studies did not offer strong support for the effectiveness of interventions. This article reviews the review and the ensuing debate.

Study: Psychosocial Factors Significantly Related to Shoulder Pain
July 6, 2010
Marked shoulder pain occurred three times more frequently among hotel room cleaners when psychosocial risk factors were present according to a University of California investigation.

The (Sorry?) State of Science
July 1, 2010
One of our goals with ergoweb.com and The Ergonomics Report™ is to bridge the gap between science and application. We're firm believers in scientific methodologies as a means to better understand our world and to better direct our efforts in pursuit of improvement. That's why it pains us to share our concerns with the general state of science, and the ergonomics scientific base in particular.

Study: Night Shift Impacts on Productivity and Health
June 23, 2010
Night work may have its advantages but a review of the literature indicates there is a price to pay relative to work productivity and personal health.

Participatory Ergonomics Increases Success of New Tools Introduced to Floor Layers
June 17, 2010
A Danish study used a participatory ergonomics process to introduce new floor laying tools that support standing postures (vs. traditional kneeling postures), resulting in increased acceptance and decreased musculoskeletal complaints.

Study Confirms the Value of a Walkaround Safety Survey
June 7, 2010
A Danish safety walkthrough survey predicted recent injury incidence and prevented future injury occurrence at construction worksites. The investigation also found that unsafe conditions that were considered to be a joint responsibility (e.g., scaffolding) were less likely to be corrected as opposed to conditions considered an individual responsibility (e.g., proper use of a ladder).

Where Is OSHA Headed With Ergonomics?
June 2, 2010
OSHA has a long history with ergonomics. This article revisits that history and reviews recent comments from OSHA officials that suggest where the agency is headed. Will there be a new attempt to promulgate an "ergonomics standard?" Where does OSHA's aggressive pursuit of the new Injury and Illness Prevention Program standard fit in?

Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Computer Operators
May 24, 2010
Computer operators suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis exert more and produce less according to a recent University of Pittsburgh study – but there is hope. The authors conclude that workstation and equipment modifications to reduce the impact of hand structural changes on typing style would greatly benefit those with RA.

Is That Ball Ergonomic?
May 19, 2010
This article explores the challenging question of "what makes something ergonomic," using exercise balls, which are often labeled 'ergonomic' by their promoters, as an example. This series of examples demonstrate that the context of use for an exercise ball, or any other product in question, is critical to the credibility of an ergonomic label.

Study: Higher Body Weight Associated with Healthier Lumbar Discs
May 10, 2010
Contrary to popular opinion, an award winning Finnish investigation challenges the concept that increased compressive force due to higher body weight predisposes an individual to lumbar degenerative disc disease. In a study of monozygotic twins, the twin with a higher body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) was statically more likely to have healthier lumbar discs.

Research: A New Graphic Method to Analyze Hand Power Grip Strentgh and Endurance
April 27, 2010
Research into hand power grip strength and endurance has led to the creation of a new graphic method which illustrates fatigue and produces a strength-endurance numeric value.

Multi-Tasking and Performance - Most People Are NOT Supertaskers
April 21, 2010
Recent studies investigating multi-tasking found that people are generally limited to performing two mental tasks at any given time; that most people exhibit performance decrements under multi-task conditions; a small percentage of people, labeled "supertaskers," are able to perform two tasks at a time without any performance degradation (sorry, but chances are, you're not one of them).

Increased Work Demands Result in Greater Exposure to Ergonomic Risks, But also Increase Productivity
April 12, 2010
A study of asymptomatic office workers found that employees who subjectively react greater (physiologically, behaviorally, and cognitively) to normal work demands are exposed to, or experience more risk factors than the control group when performing high stress tasks. These workers also exhibited increased work performance.

Spanish MSD Study Highlights Challenges in Ergonomics Research
April 7, 2010
A post-hoc analysis of the 5th Spanish National Survey highlights challenges researchers face when attempting to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships between work-related risk factors, tasks and injuries. The study found statistically significant relationships between duration of exposure to certain tasks and MSDs, but did it further our understanding, and therefore our ability to intervene?

Research: Ergonomics Program Significantly Lessens Neck/Shoulder Pain in LA Garment Industry
March 29, 2010
A 72% drop in neck/shoulder pain symptoms occurred over a four-week period following the application of ergonomic interventions among a group of 247 Los Angeles sewing machine operators according to a recent prospective University of California study.