Sit-to-Stand Workstations
August 31, 2010
Sit-to-Stand workstations for computer work are growing in popularity for many reasons, driving down cost and stimulating innovation. This article reviews key features to consider for sit-to-stand workstation design and provides examples of the current state-of-the-art options in the marketplace.

Man Falls Off Surgical Table: A Safe Patient Handling Lesson to be Learned
August 4, 2010
Guest contributor Jill Kelby reviews a tragic patient handling accident, using it as a compelling vehicle to understand obesity and other challenges that care facilities face when handling and caring for patients: "...we can’t engineer out the humans in SPH. There will always be some amount of error. The goal in SPH needs to become how to get that error rate as close to zero as possible."

Equipois Named "Most Innovative Company of the Year"
July 31, 2010
Equipois, designer and manufacturer of ergonomic “zero gravity” workplace technology, has been selected as the recipient of the International Stevie Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year, North America. Equipois was recognized for its patented zeroG technology, which allows tools and other objects to float as if weightless, boosting productivity and eliminating injuries.

New Study: Time Spent Sitting Linked to Higher Risk of Death
July 23, 2010
A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds it's not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death. Researchers say time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level.

Emerging Ergonomic Technologies: Laptops and Hand Stabilizing Support Device
July 21, 2010
A focuses on innovation through ergonomics. Will laptop (notebook) computers ever be ergonomically designed? So far, no, but here are some prototypes aiming to change that, including adjustable screens and keyboards, curved displays and split keyboards, and more. In another example, researchers are developing a device that steadies the hand for precision tasks and disability accommodation.

Design from an Ergonomist’s Perspective; Ergonomics from a Designer’s Perspective - Perhaps It Should be Both
July 14, 2010
Guest contributor Ian Chong writes: "'Ergonomically Designed' is something of a misnomer these days. No, let me rephrase that, it is an oxymoron. It has now become solely a marketing term, brainwashing both public and professionals as end users. Too many times I’ve seen a product labeled 'ergonomically designed' when it clearly isn’t -- nor has it ever been -- nor should it ever be."

Usability, eBook Reading Speeds, and the Importance of Science
July 7, 2010
Usability is ergonomics. Ergonomics is usability. Science, and navigating the politics of science and evidence based design, is critical to ergonomists and the field of ergonomics. Peter Budnick reviews a challenge to be prepared for usability politics, and questions recent research by usability guru Jacob Nielson as an example.

Is Your Safe Patient Handling System Working?
June 30, 2010
If the CEO of your facility asks you how the safe patient handling (SPH) system is working will you be able to tell him/her? Do you know if it is effective and meeting its purpose and goals? One common weakness in safe patient handling systems is the lack of meaningful and accurate measurements that assess their effectiveness.

Problems with 12 Hr Nursing Shifts; Pharmacy Ergonomics; Older Workers; Multi-Touch Interfaces
June 24, 2010
A summary of ergonomics in the news, including the negative effects of 12 hour nursing shifts on nurses and patients, a pharmacist's perspective on ergonomics, or the lack thereof, in pharmacies, research on older workers, and the ergonomics of multi-touch interfaces like the iPad.

Lessons from the BP Oil Spill
June 15, 2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill was a predictable and preventable accident. BP has a documented history of systematic breakdowns in corporate decision making, risk management, and corporate culture. Macroergonomics could have protected the company, and all those affected, from this disaster and its massive consequences.

OSHA, Unions and Ergonomics in the Hospitality Industry; Ergonomic Guitars
June 9, 2010
This week's Ergonomics Roundup, including an OSHA focus on the hospitality industry, and Hispanic housekeepers in particular, claims that OSHA is facilitating union organizing in that industry by using ergonomics enforcement tactics, and ergonomic guitars / guitar making.

Safe Patient Handling -- Is Your “Program” Struggling to Achieve Its Goals?
June 2, 2010
Does your facility have a safe patient handling program that is meeting its goals and expectations? Do you have strong support and engagement from all levels at your facility—from your executive leadership down through direct caregivers? Has SPH culture taken hold in your facility? If you can’t answer yes to those questions, then your SPH program most likely is suffering from some of the common

Singleton Obituary, New Student Award, Macroergonomics, Beergonomics, Bargonomics
May 25, 2010
This week's Ergonomics Roundup, including the passing of an ergonomics pioneer, Professor William Thomas Singleton; a new student practitioner award, named in honor of another pioneer; Dieter Jahns, an ergonomist who rediscovers ergonomics through macroergonomics; beergonomics and bargonomics.

Ergonomics and Plane Crash Survival; Older Drivers; Panini Keypad; Neural Ergonomics
May 20, 2010
Concise summaries of ergonomics in the news, including the role of ergonomics in the survival of a 10 yr old boy in the recent Libya airplane crash, a study of the accident and injury characteristics among older drivers, the Panini Keypad for faster texting, and a screed about "neural ergonomics."

Safe Patient Handling—Designing and Implementing SPH for Long Term Success
May 19, 2010
Ergo-PATH System presents an exclusive 3-day seminar “Safe Patient Handling System: How to Design, Implement and Sustain SPH for Long Term Success”. This interactive training, which introduces strategy, processes and evidenced-based tools, will take place in Chicago, IL on June 24-26, 2010.

Ergonomics Roundup: Ergonomically Designed? New Canadian Std, Car Talk, SPH Legislation, iPad Usability, Radiology
May 12, 2010
A concise roundup of ergonomics topics in the news, including the meaning of "ergonomically designed", draft Canadian workplace ergonomics standard CSA1004, fleet vehicles, get used to talking to your car, patient handling update, ergonomics for radiologists, Jacob Nielsen pans iPad usability.

Ergonomics Roundup: Cognitive Ergonomics; Healthcare Ergonomics; Human Systems Integration
April 27, 2010
A concise roundup of ergonomics topics in the news, including cognitive ergonomics and multi-tasking, electronic medical records systems, a Safe Practices for Better Healthcare report, the 10 commandments of ultrasound ergonomics, patient handling, ergonomics and the Upper Big Branch mining disaster, a new long-term study investigating health effects of mobile phone emissions.

Don’t Miss Out On This One of a Kind Safe Patient Handling Excellence Seminar!!
April 20, 2010
Ergo-PATH System presents an exclusive 3-day seminar “Safe Patient Handling System: How to Design, Implement and Sustain SPH for Long Term Success”. This interactive training, which introduces strategy-processes-tactics, will take place in Las Vegas, NV on May 20-22, 2010.

3 Step Process to Reduce Caregiver Error in the Selection of Safe Patient Handling Equipment
April 20, 2010
One of the most common problems in safe patient handling programs is the inconsistent or incorrect selection of safe patient handling equipment by caregivers. Jill Kelby, PT, CEA discusses the key reasons for “error” in the selection of safe patient handling equipment and recommends a 3 step process to minimize the risk of harm and injury to the patient and/or caregiver.

Ergonomics Roundup: Teens and MSDs; Brewery Ergonomics; IEHF Conference and Web; Musical Instruments; iPad vs. Kindle
April 13, 2010
A summary of ergonomics in the news, including teens and MSD awareness, brewery ergonomics, Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors, musical instrument ergonomics, and iPad ergonomics, usability, and how it's being compared with the Kindle as an ebook reader.