el mercado de los productos ergonómicos - tangerine systems · medad degenerativa de las...

El Mercado de los productos ergonómicos

Introducción

Las enfermedades musculoesqueléticas son las enfermedades más frecuentes que afectan almundo laboral. El crecimiento en la última década ha sido tan importante, que la OrganizaciónMundial de la Salud ha declarado la presente década como la Década de las enfermedadesmusculoesqueléticas.

Y es que, como se puede observar en el gráfico siguiente, todos los estudios epidemiológicosen los países industrializados, tienen como denominador común la mayor incidencia (nuevoscasos) y prevalencia (casos existentes) de estas afecciones en el sector laboral.

Como indica en gráfico de prevalencia de la siguiente página, las afecciones de la columnalumbar y cervical son las más importantes. Esto tiene como consecuencia la disminución delrendimiento laboral, aumento del ausentismo (en USA representa US$ 70 millardos al año),incremento en los costos médicos, clima laboral inadecuado. Los efectos en la productividadde las empresas son cada día más catastróficos.

Como podrás darte cuenta en la gráfica sobre la prevalencia por sectores industriales (página3), el sector salud, educación, administración pública, figuran entre los más afectados, y el pro-blema afecta hoy en día a ambientes (como el de intermediación financiera) que con anteriori-dad se consideraban libres de riesgo.

Los elevados costos de los tratamientos médicos, quirúrgicos y de rehabilitación hacen cadavez más importante el problema para ser enfrentados con los ingresos de la familia promedio.En Estados Unidos los estudios indican que el 70% de la población sufrirá, por lo menos unavez en la vida, de dolor lumbar, y de esta proporción el 10% se cronifica, requiriendo tratamien-tos que están por el orden de US$100.000 anuales.

Además, la calidad de vida se deteriora, ya que estos dolores no desaparecen durante el des-canso nocturno y agregan un elemento que promueve el Estrés en las empresas (página 4).

La Cultura de la Silla

“Nosotros pasamos mucho tiempo, mientras estamos despiertos, en una silla. Ennuestra cultura sedentaria, cada uno de nosotros debe escoger de más de dosdocenas de sillas a lo largo de la rutina diaria—en nuestro comedor y cocina, salas ydormitorios, estudios, patios, automóviles, subways, buses, oficinas y escuelas. Noso-tros tocamos las sillas, no sólo con nuestras manos sino con todo el cuerpo. Pero, apesar de su íntimo lugar en nuestras vidas, conocemos muy poco sobre ellas y susefectos sobre nosotros, tanto física como mentalmente.

Sin lugar a dudas, sus efectos son profundos. Lo que es cierto para la silla lo es paratodos los artefactos que creamos. Nosotros los diseñamos, pero una vez construi-dos, debemos adaptarnos a ellos.

Como sentarse en sillas ha sido una conducta muy extendida para la personacomún a lo largo de los siglos, ha dejado su marca sobre el cuerpo humano ysobre la conciencia humana. La silla permite vislumbrar en nuestras ideas colectivasel status y honor, confort y orden, belleza y eficiencia, disciplina y relajación. Almismo tiempo que cambian nuestras ideas, lo hacen nuestras sillas.

Las nuevas ideas en el campo de la ergonomía están cambiando el diseño de lassillas. Pero, independientemente del amplio rango de especialidades involucradas enel diseño de sillas—la ingeniería humana, la investigación ergonómica, la medicinafísica y rehabilitativa y las investigaciones de mercado—los conceptos básicos debelleza y confort eluden una definición. En parte porque tanto la belleza como elconfort se mezclan con el status.

La silla en la que una persona se sienta revela el status social de él o ella, el cualtoma prioridad sobre la belleza y el confort. La silla representa un rol, tanto que laspersonas tienen mucho cuidado en no sentarse en “otras sillas”. El trono o la sillaspresidencial, o la del director y la secretaria, la del gerente y el visitante, todo indicaun orden establecido y el establecimiento de niveles jerárquicos y funciones dentrode la organización.

Las implicaciones sobre la salud de las sillas requiere la formulación de políticaspúblicas, ya que el dolor de espalda está en segundo lugar de las dolencias, despuésdel resfriado común. Ello ha hecho que la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, laOrganización Mundial de la Salud y la Organización Internacional de Trabajo tengandentro de sus políticas más importantes la promoción de ambientes de trabajo,seguros y saludables. Las legislaciones de los países industrializados hacen cada vezmás énfasis en normas de salud y seguridad laboral, y las empresas se verán obliga-das a adoptar esta normativa, que implica que las adquisiciones de sillas tendrán quehacerse con base en estos principios.

The Chair. Rethinking culture, body, and design

Galen Cranz, Ph.D.Professor of architecture at the

University of California at Berkeley,specializing in the sociology of architecture.

Certified teacher of the Alexander Technique

Efectos de la silla sobre el cuerpo humano

Como podrás apreciar en las gráficas que siguen, las sillas en las que habitualmente nos senta-mos, están diseñadas para agradar a la vista más que para aceptar en ellas a nuestro cuerpo. Elhumano al tratar de adaptarse obliga al cuerpo a adoptar posturas peligrosas, que a la largaoriginan las enfermedades crónicas que antes mencionamos.

Las torsiones exageradas, la flexión extrema hacia adelante o hacia los lados, la rigidez traenmicrotraumatismos en la columna, articulaciones y contracturas musculares (espasmos) queocasionan dolor. Las lesiones pueden avanzar hasta el punto en que sólo el tratamiento médicoo quirúrgico podrán aliviarle.

La rigidez del cuerpo a la que obligan las sillas convencionales, hace cada vez más difícil lanutrición y oxigenación de músculos y articulaciones, trayendo como consecuencia la enfer-medad degenerativa de las articulaciones u osteoartrosis. La falta de movimiento de las piernasconduce al éxtasis sanguíneo, con propensión a las várices, edema e incluso enfermedadtromboembólica, causante de la muerte súbita (embolía pulmonar).

Para combatir la rigidez, la persona entonces trata de buscar una nueva postura que le alivie elmalestar, con lo que pierde la concentración en la actividad y su rendimiento baja considerable-mente.

El malestar hace que cambie su estado anímico y comienza a gestarse un ambiente de trabajoturbulento que afecta al resto de los compañeros de trabajo. La comunicación interpersonal setranstorna y la atención a los clientes se hace difícil.

El advenimiento del uso de los ordenadores en la oficina y el hogar ha hecho que los factoresde riesgo de enfermedades musculoesqueléticas estén presentes en grupos etarios menores.Ésto agrava más el problema y lo extiende a una gran parte de la población.

El mercado de productos ergonómicos

Una vez que hemos planteado la naturaleza del problema, y las necesidades a satisfacer con losproductos ergonómicos (entre los cuales está la silla), podemos inferir el segmento del merca-do al cual van dirigidos nuestros productos.

La población busca en nuestros productos, comodidad, salud y seguridad. Además de un diseñovisual que resalte su percepción de sí mismo (status, belleza, comodidad, etc.). La mayoría de laspersonas no tienen conciencia de lo importante que es la silla para su calidad de vida. Por ellodebemos despertar esa necesidad en el cliente potencial, a través de una estrategia promocionalque permita que el proceso de decisión de compra del cliente, sea consciente, responsable ysatisfactorio.

Se trata de un cambio en la cultura de sentarse, que requiere un esfuerzo educativo. Afortuna-damente las políticas públicas de los países y agencias de desarrollo se encaminan al mismoobjetivo, por lo que la oferta de nuestros productos tiene buena aceptación.

El mercado emergente de la ergonomía se incrementa en forma exponencial. Existen variosfactores responsables del creciente interés en los productos ergonómicos:

❐ Las enfermedades musculoesqueléticas relacionadas con el trabajo, constituyen hoy lasegunda causa, después del resfriado común, de consulta médica.

❐ La alta incidencia y prevalencia de estas afecciones influye en el rendimiento de lostrabajadores y en la productividad de las empresas. Aumenta la fatiga, los costos médi-cos, el ausentismo laboral, la insatisfacción en el trabajo, genera estrés en el ambientede trabajo, coloca barreras a la comunicación intraorganizacional y entorpece la rela-ción con clientes y proveedores.

❐ En la casi totalidad de los casos, el origen de estas dolencias es la adopción de posturaspeligrosas en el trabajo que ocasionan microtraumatismos crónicos en la columnar, induci-das en gran medida por el uso de sillas inadecuadas.

❐ La silla es uno de los principales componentes del puesto de trabajo (workspace) en elestilo de vida de la empresa moderna. El uso de sillas inadecuadas provoca lesiones enlos usuarios, mientras que una silla cuyo diseño está basado en principios ergonómicos,facilita el trabajo, permitiendo movimiento y soporte del cuerpo, que son las caracterís-ticas que producen la sensación de confort.

❐ Las regulaciones gubernamentales de los países desarrollados y en vías de desarrollo,hacen énfasis en lograr condiciones de trabajo seguras y saludables para los trabajado-res, y obligan a las empresas a aplicar las normas de ergonomía en los ambientes detrabajo. La legislación es cada vez más exigente al respecto.

❐ El estilo de vida moderno, luego de satisfacer las necesidades básicas (Pirámide deMaslow), hace que el consumidor busque productos que preserven su salud, le brindenbienestar físico y mental, por lo que cada vez más buscan satisfacer sus necesidades conproductos ergonómicos, diseñados en función de dar respuesta a estas necesidades. Lademanda por estos productos es cada vez mayor tanto en la oficina como en el hogar.

❐ El crecimiento de los “trabajos desde el hogar” hacen que el ambiente destinado a talfin deba tener condiciones que permitan realizar las labores con bajo riesgo ergonómico.Por lo que la dotación de estos ambientes es cada vez más importante, e incluso sonobjeto de legislaciones que obligan a diseñarlos en forma adecuada.

❐ La alta incidencia y prevalencia incide en el incremento de la siniestralidad y en el aumen-to de las primas de seguro para las empresas. Liberty Mutual, por ejemplo, incentiva laadopción de medidas ergonómicas (que reduzcan el riesgo de estas afecciones) en lasempresas concediendo primas más bajas que a las empresas que no las aplican.

❐ No hay ambiente de trabajo en el que las medidas ergonómicas no deban ser aplicadas,por lo que el segmento del mercado es sumamente amplio: desde los niños a los ancia-nos, desde las oficinas a las fábricas. Por lo que nuestra misión es detectar las necesida-des en los ambientes de trabajo (u hogar) y satisfacerlas con productos de alta calidad(como son nuestros asientos HÅG).

❐ Como la mayoría de las personas no tienen conciencia de sus necesidades, los gobier-nos y las agencias de desarrollo (como OMS, OPS, OIT, Banco Mundial, BID, etc) tienenprogramas de educación y entrenamiento dirigidas a los trabajadores y a los empresa-rios. La tendencia es a incluir el tema de la ergonomía como parte de los programas deformación académica en carreras como medicina, odontología, ingeniería, escuelas denegocios, etc. Esto hace que exista una presión constante para el equipamiento futurode las empresas con productos basados en la ergonomía.

A continuación se presentan una selección de artículos, extraídos de ERGO WEB (http://www.ergoweb.com/news_sitemap.cfm) , que permiten ilustrar las características del mercadode los productos ergonómicos, en especial de nuestras sillas y sus tendencias. He resaltadoalgunos textos para facilitar la visualización de algunos conceptos que considero de importan-cia.

THE U.S. MARKET FOR OFFICE FURNITURE

The SBI Market Profile on the U.S. office furniture industry is an in-depth analysis ofthis $14 billion industry. This valuable research document provides readers withinsights on how to stimulate sales growth and boost profit margins in the face ofincreasing competitive pressures, weaker price gains, and slowing growth. In order toaccomplish this goal, U.S. shipments and import trends are organized into fourmajor product categories-seating products, desks and tables, storage units and filingproducts, and systems furniture. Shipments are further segmented into 18 productcategories. Shipments are provided by material - wood and nonwood - and areprovided in dollars and units. The author of the report also provides shipments onready-to-assemble wood home office computer furniture. Product line shipmentand import data can be used to uncover growing market niches in order toeffectively plan new product introductions. This investigation also evaluates officefurniture distribution channels. Data on wholesalers and retailers are analyzed inorder for readers to take advantage of the consolidation in theses markets andtheir ability to sell to the SOHO market. The role of the Internet in office furnituredistribution is also discussed. In addition, the author evaluates the cost structure andprofitability of U.S. office furniture plants. Market share and operating ratios arecalculated for the industry’s leading competitors - Steelcase, Haworth, HermanMiller, HON Industries, and Knoll. These trends were collected as part of our effortto provide competitor intelligence. Twenty-two manufacturers are profiled in orderto review the growth strategies of key manufacturers. The plant data and companyinformation is provided for readers to develop their own strategies to stimulategrowth and maximize profit margins. Shipment and trade data are provided for theCanadian market as well.

Ergonomics as a Global Initiative: Presence and PurposeJune 6, 2001

Ergonomics/Human Factors began in the United States largely after World War II. The term 'ergonomics' was coined in Europe nearly 100 years before in 1847. Since then ergonomics has played a role in many Industrially Developed Countries (ICs) in Western Europe, Scandanavia, and North America. The primary focus in many of these areas became military applications dealing with both physical and cognitive design.

Background

As greater industrialization occurred ergonomics moved into the private sector addressing both health and safety, and productivity in manufacturing settings. From manufacturing, ergonomics has spread to many industries and environments showing a strong representation in product and system design.

Having successfully addressed ergonomics issues as they pertain to health and safety, many countries are now using ergonomics principles to enlarge, enrich, and enhance both work and home life.

What about countries who do not have the same amount of growth or capital as those mentioned above? Does ergonomics exist in their models?

IDCs

Industrially Developing Countries (IDC) have actually found ergonomics to be an almost necessary perspective to effectively and successfully implement technology transferred from more developed countries.

The fundamentals of ergonomics again: to make the best fit possible between humans, equipment/tools, and their shared environment.

With regards to IDCs, an ergonomics perspective can help to best use the human and technical resources by optimizing the fit between existing and any new or transferred technology, and the local user population and operating environment. Particularly in the aspect of technology transfer, an ergonomics perspective can be beneficial.

One of the main purposes of technology transfer is within economic development where two goals are strived for simultaneously. The primary goal is the removal of extreme poverty by satisfying the most basic needs of food, shelter, health, employment and education. The secondary goal is the modernization and growth of national output forth for domestic consumption and to earn income through exporting (Shahnavaz, 1997).

So how exactly can ergonomics play a role in technology transfer. An often seen scenario is when equipment that was made for one population, say northern European, is transferred to a population of a different anthropometric size, for instance an Oriental population. This leads immediately to awkward postures and a higher rate of accidents and occupational diseases. Another example is transferring equipment with all instructions in the German language to a Tiawanese speaking population. In both cases the risk for personal injury, poorer production, and even disaster has increased by poorly matching the user and the equipment or environment.

As great differences can exist among countries participating in an exchange including natural and human resources, infrastructure, environment, business experience,

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began in the United

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Industrially Developed Countries (ICs) Scandanavia, and North America.

these areas became

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cultural background, anthropometry, etc., it may be inappropriate to transfer technology without any modification.

Lanza (1985) sees the disaster at the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India as an example of just that: "The real cause of the Bhopal tragedy is blind technology transfer. It is the result of establishing a highly complex chemical facility in a region with no extensive history of technological evolution."

Other considerations whose neglect may cause a mismatch between the worker, tools, and environment can include the preferred working posture of the population; possibly nutritional inadequacies; greater fatigue; psychology; culture in the sense of learning, training and motivation; and cultural responses to stimuli.

For instance, American subjects have an almost perfect response to the color scheme, red-stop and green-go. Implementing technology from America to a country where neither the color red nor green brought about a programmed response could prove ineffective at best and disastrous at worst. What if these controls were part of a nuclear facility and in the event of an emergency, the operator was unable to determine which stimuli required a certain action? Examining such a transfer from an ergonomics perspective would likely highlight such mismatches.

In fact, leading scholars and practitioners in both ICs and IDCs have stressed the importance of ergonomics in the successful transfer of technology (Human Factors Society, 1987).

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA), formed in 1959, aims to promote the knowledge and practice of ergonomics by initiating and supporting international activities and cooperation (IEA, 2001). As such, the IEA is the federation of ergonomics and human factors societies around the world. As of June, 2000, the IEA included 35 federated societies. These represent a broad geographic and cultural area including the ergonomics societies from the countries of China, Yugoslavia, Croatia, India, Brazil, Russia, and Turkey.

Future work with ergonomics

Increased awareness of and activities related to ergonomics in these countries will surely benefit their continued growth.

REFERENCES:

Human Factors Society, 1987. Human Factors Society Bulletin, 30, 12, p.11

IEA: http://www.iea.cc. 2001

Lanza, G.R., 1985. Blind Technology Transfer: the Bhopal Example. Environment Science and Technology. Vol. 19., 7, pp.581-582.

Shahnavaz, H. Technology Transfer and Ergonomics. Center for Ergonomics of Developing Countries, CEDC. Lulea University, Lulea, Sweden.

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The Rapid Emergence of ErgonomicsJanuary 15, 2001

The word ergonomics is experiencing an explosion of usage. From computer accessories to garden tools, the latest marketing buzzword is capturing audiences like never before. And it’s only just beginning. Companies and consumers are responding to ergonomic products and services in exponential numbers. A prosperous society, educated consumers, government standards, and the Internet are thrusting the science of ergonomics into the limelight.

But why now? According to Dr. Peter Budnick, a professional ergonomist and CEO of ErgoWeb, ergonomics is here to stay primarily because of societal changes. “In today’s world, we’re living longer, we’re better educated and we expect more out of life. We take better care of ourselves; nobody wants to be crippled when we’re older. A prosperous society has given us choices. The best way to have a safe, productive workplace is to have a prosperous, educated society.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 1.8 million workers suffer from ergonomics injuries each year, and that businesses spend up to $60 billion annually on workers’ compensation related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The three primary risk factors that contribute to MSDs, explains Budnick, are posture, force and repetition. “One of these, or a combination of two or all of them- is at the root of most problems in the workplace, whether it’s health, production, or quality.”

Luckily, ergonomics is becoming an easier sell. Study after study concludes that a properly implemented ergonomics program can reduce workers’ compensation costs, absenteeism and turnover while increasing production efficiency, product quality and worker morale. It’s a competitive business strategy that is separating the early adaptors from the pessimistic proponents of “the way things were.”

“Companies that institute a comprehensive, multi-faceted ergonomics program can expect to see dramatic results within a few years,” claims Budnick. “It demands attention at many levels of a company, but it pays off handsomely.”

The reduction in medical costs alone can bring significant savings to a company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care costs for companies have increased 2.5 times faster than any other benefit cost. Considering that just one MSD costs a company an average of $22,500, prevention can be quickly justified. OSHA reports that $1 dollar out of every $3 dollars of workers’ compensation costs are currently spent on work-related MSDs. A General Accounting Office 1997 study concluded that sound ergonomics programs reduce company MSD compensation costs by as much as 36-91 percent.

But it’s still the bottom-line that influences most decision makers. In a national survey of human resource managers, those companies with an ergonomics program created it primarily to prevent injuries (56%). Other reasons include responding to injuries on the job (33%) and lowering insurance premiums (11%).

Another driving factor in ergonomics popularity is government regulation. The OSH Act of 1970 was created to assure safe and healthy working conditions by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act. The Secretary of Labor may promulgate (put into law) any new occupational safety or health standard by following

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ergonomic products and services in prosperous society,

standards, and



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long procedural and political steps. In November, OSHA issued an Ergonomics Program Standand that will protect approximately 27.3 employees from musculoskeletal disorders.

Also under the OSH Act, states are able to pass their own regulations to protect workers. Currently three states, California, North Carolina and Washington, have taken advantage of this and passed their own ergonomics standards. Washington and California are initially focusing on education and implementation rather than enforcement and citations. North Carolina’s ergonomics standard is identical to OSHA’s Ergonomic Program Standard.

With the advent of the Internet, the education and implementation component is easier than ever. The Internet has given the world information that was never available in the past. Budnick recalls, “We learned early on that there was a thirst for this kind of information. When we launched our site back in 1994, our users craved knowledge. We responded by providing case studies, reference materials, discussion groups and news information. Our worldwide audience continues to share their personal struggles and success stories in an effort to educate and help one another.”

“It’s exciting to be working in the field of ergonomics right now,” comments Budnick. “The days of blind opposition to ergonomics are over. It is now accepted as a true science that improves the lives of our workers while increasing productivity and quality. Ergonomics is a business strategy that is a win for everyone.”

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Does Ergonomics Make Business Sense?February 18, 2002

The answer is that ergonomics can make good, strategic business sense, but the effort must be deployed correctly. Ergonomics initiatives have been credited with saving companies from $2 million per year in workers compensation costs (AlliedSignal, 1999 Applied Ergonomics Conference) to $1.2 million per year in reduced product build costs (Lucent Technologies, 2001 Applied Ergonomics Conference). The flip side to this is that hundreds of ergonomics initiatives do not achieve any measurable results. Many initiatives incur readily apparent costs, such as those for ineffective training, expensive solutions that don't solve the facility's problem, and wasted time in committee meetings with little progress, while concrete results have yet to materialize.

For ergonomics to make business sense, it must be deployed as a business initiative. A few characteristics that can be applied to any successful business improvement plan are:

A logical sequence of plan-do-check-act that non-technical managers can understand. By aligning your ergonomics activities with the PDCA continuous improvement cycle, you will ensure that your efforts are targeted at the highest priority concerns and that solutions adequately address identified problems.Effective methods for evaluating potential problems and solutions which yield clear priorities. Most ergonomics improvement initiatives invest a great deal of time in job analysis, yet many analysis techniques are flawed - they either require too much time or don't provide sufficient detail to pinpoint the problem.Continuous attention to the improvement of the existing environment and an upstream focus on new product/process introductions. An ergonomics initiative that only addresses the current workplace misses the opportunity for low-cost, high-impact improvements to next year's workplace. Yet, a sole focus on the future will leave many immediate improvement opportunities unrealized and potentially put workers at risk of injury.Swift implementation of changes only when everyone agrees that the benefit will be greater than the cost (financially and otherwise). Well-conceived ergonomics improvements often enhance quality and productivity. Capturing the dollar value associated with these will turbocharge your ergonomics program.

These points will be explored in further detail as a four-part series in The Ergonomics Report™, ErgoWeb's 12-page monthly newsletter available at .Ergonomics Report

Mike Wynn, CPEVice PresidentHumantech, Inc.





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Ergonomics initiatives have been from $2 million per

(AlliedSignal, Ergonomics Conference) to $1.2 million

product build costs (Lucent Ergonomics Conference).



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OSHA Agreement Affects Small Business ErgonomicsDecember 2, 2002

On November 21, OSHA and the Small Business Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help small businesses reduce ergonomics hazards through education, information, and training. According to an OSHA press release marking the event, as part of the agreement, “OSHA and SBA will establish an information sharing process to distribute ergonomics program information to small businesses. The partners also will create a referral procedure to submit small business input on industry and task-specific ergonomics guidelines.”

Memorandums of Understanding are the government agency equivalent of private industry Alliances also created by OSHA. In this specific Memorandum of Understanding, the first one seemingly created to address Ergonomics in particular, the Small Business Alliance is agreeing to distribute information and resources regarding ergonomics and take input from small businesses regarding ergonomics considerations. OSHA’s part in the process includes encouraging small businesses, of which there are currently in excess of 25 million in the U.S., to access ergonomics information, and help create an ergonomics information sharing process for small businesses. OSHA also created the press release to accompany the signing event.

Up to three-quarters of all new jobs generated in the United States in any given year are attributed to small businesses which can be as small as one-person sole proprietorships or as large as 500 employees. Any employee or employer falling into the small business category in the U.S. could be affected by this Memorandum of Understanding and any potential voluntary guidelines for small business ergonomics it generates.

Editor’s note: November’s , a 12-page monthly newsletter produced by Ergoweb Inc., addressed the issue of OSHA and Alliances in greater detail. Follow this link .

Ergonomics Report

to inquire about a free trial issue of The Ergonomics Report

Sources: OSHA, SBA

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Small Business Memorandum of Understanding to

ergonomics hazards training.

press release marking the and SBA will

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Relating Productivity to ErgonomicsOctober 9, 2001

Many companies have heard about the cost savings associated with preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the work place. The savings these companies have most likely heard about have been focused on reduced workers' compensation claims, lower insurance premiums, less employee turnover, and possibly avoiding regulatory fines. What some companies haven't heard is that improving ergonomics almost always can improve a company's productivity.

Any ergonomics intervention must be viewed in light of its effect on productivity, and the best ergonomics solutions will often improve productivity. Simply put, reducing unnecessary or awkward postures and exertions almost necessarily reduces the time it takes to complete a given task, thus improving productivity.

Body motions, visibility, workload, and other important ergonomic parameters will also affect the quality of work, and the quality of work product. When a task is matched with the ability of the people that will perform it, they will make fewer errors and produce less waste. Ergonomic design considerations have also been shown to influence employee recruitment and retention. The following table shows examples of successful performance approaches.

Company Intervention Results

Applied Materials (supplier to the silicon chip industry)

Properly designed and tested casters for manually moving 7,000 lb. clean room manufacturing equipment

400% increase in productivity, in terms of man hours, reduced potential for workmanship errors

Applied Materials (supplier to the silicon chip industry)

Researched and selected a better torque hand driver tool

50% increase in productivity

Telecommunications plant Ergonomic redesign of four workstations

Increased production, reduced data entry error rates and improved job satisfaction

Fast Food provider Redesign of workstation to include anthropometric dimension of worker

A 20% increase in productivity

Steel Company Ergonomic redesign of an observation pit

Save over $150,000 in 1 year through reduced waste and higher productivity

Toy Manufacturing Plant Product design change A savings of $0.11 per part

When calculating ergonomics into equations at your workplace, don't forget to look at possible productivity gains. This may be just the information needed to convince a manager or team member that good ergonomics is definitely what you're looking for.

An excerpt from Ergoweb's .Applied Workplace Ergonomics Manual

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Ergonomics Increases Employee SatisfactionJune 1, 2000

With the unemployment rate at a 30-year low, the American workplace is struggling with employee retention and satisfaction. The layoffs in the 1980’s and early 1990’s destroyed the tradition of loyalty and replaced it with a culture of job-hopping and negotiating. As people search for new positions, they are valuing and demanding that employers provide a safe, healthy and comfortable working environment. Ergonomics is quickly factoring into that equation.

In a U.S. Health and Human Services survey this year, 95% of U.S. companies with more than 50 employees said they have taken action to improve workers’ health, up from 81% in 1992. Consider that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by ergonomic hazards are the biggest safety and health problem in the workplace today, accounting for nearly one-third of all serious job-related injuries, and you see why companies are embracing ergonomics more than ever before.

“I enjoy coming to work in the morning because I know that it will be a comfortable experience. Knowing that the company cares about me certainly makes me more willing and able to put in the extra effort,” states Ryan Jeppeson, a sales associate whose workstation was configured by an ergonomist.

This attitude is backed up by a recent ergonomics case study where beverage delivery workers were ranked in the top five for severity of injuries on the job. After an ergonomic solution was implemented, there was a reduction in the injury and illness rate, improved physical and psychological comfort and increased employee satisfaction.

The employer who looks after employee’s well-being stands a higher chance of retaining a good employee. A Gallop organization study shows that most workers rate having a caring boss even higher than they value money or fringe benefits. A healthy dose of gratitude can go a long way according to Coors. They introduced stretch breaks, hired ergonomics experts to redesign machines and built on-site gyms and health clinics.

“Everyone wants to be productive and perform well. Proper ergonomic solutions increase productivity and quality of work or product,” comments President and CEO of ErgoWeb, Dr. Peter Budnick.

Not only is it good for employee moral, it’s good for the bottom line as a result of employee retention, lower numbers of injuries, insurance costs, lost work days and improvements in employee comfort. This kinder and gentler approach to management is proving to be the competitive edge companies need in order to attract new employees and gain a few more productive years out of their workforce.


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The Office Workstation at HomeMay 7, 2001

Have a home office? You are not alone. More and more people are finding the convenience of a home office a must. It is used for keeping up with friends and family, organizing personal finance, and for occupational work.

What many don’t know is that home offices can present some of the same risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as your company office.

Home offices do have many benefits. You are more able to control your speed of work, when you can take breaks, and duration of any one task. You may not suffer from extra stress related to personal relations at work, or you may not be exposed to as much noise.

While there are all good things associated with the home office, there are also some negative trends. The computer workstation is one of the top concerns. Many people use a coffee table, the kitchen counter or other objects to serve as the workstation. The problem with this is that these surfaces were not designed to be used with a computer making the user more likely to assume awkward postures while working. A common chair for these home workstations is the old dining set chair that you only pull out when grandma comes for dinner. Again this chair was not designed for computer use. It is not adjustable and does not provide the support needed for extended periods of sitting.

If the computer workstation also doubles as the kids game/homework station, a proper fit is even more important. If it is not possible for the child to get their own workstation designed with their dimensions, some extra adjustments should be made. Pillows or phone books or whatever will help raise the child will reduce the amount of reach they have in their arms. Workstations for children are available on the market and can be found at .www.ergobuyer.com

Some also manufacture keyboards and other input devices specifically for children’s hand sizes.

The following report released by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) also has some tips for your home office. For more information about this, visit the AFMA.

Nearly one-third of American households have a home office, according to a study conducted by the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA). Whether it's located in the den, a spare bedroom or even exists as part of another room, such as the kitchen or master bedroom, the home office has become an important part of our culture today, and its popularity and prevalence are only expected to increase. Fueled largely by trends in technology and telecommuting (nearly half of all U.S. households now have a personal computer), the home office is clearly here to stay.

AFMA Report

"Consumers don't have to worry that home office furniture is cold or commercial in its look, or that one size fits all," says Jackie Hirschhaut, AFMA vice president. "The wide variety of home office furniture and accessories available today can reflect your lifestyle and personality, and even complement other rooms in your home."

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According to the AFMA survey, of those with home offices, nearly 40 percent use their office primarily for entertainment, to surf the Internet, send e-mail or shop; 30 percent use it for work; and 22 percent use it to organize their home and pay bills. In addition, 55 percent of those surveyed spend more than five hours per week in their home office.

Making Room for Work and Play

Considering the extensive variety of everyday uses for a home office, it's difficult to understand why some consumers deny themselves a home office. "People may not recognize when they're ready for a home office and may not realize how home office space can provide so many benefits – whether it's a room of its own or a part of another room," Hirschhaut says. "And there are so many furnishings options in all price ranges so anyone can – and should – enjoy office space wherever it works best in their house."

Indeed, nearly half of today's home offices currently share space with another room. The master bedroom pulls double duty most often, followed closely by the family room. "People can still pay bills, send e-mail or work in the family room if that's the most convenient place for them," says Hirschhaut. "They don't have to use the coffee table as a workstation anymore."

According to the AFMA survey, the desk was named the most practical piece of home office furniture. On consumer wish lists for home office furniture, the chair ranked highest. "Considering the popularity of ergonomics as well as the unlimited number of colors and designs available, this is no surprise," Hirschhaut says. "There is so much more variety than there was 10 years ago. Why settle for your father's office chair?"

Put the "Fun" in Functionality

In addition to the variety of chairs, today's workstations, desks, filing cabinets and lamps come in all shapes and sizes. "Consumers have many more options today. For those just starting a home office or even for those looking to add versatility to their current space, just start with a desk and add on pieces that you need," says Hirschhaut.

Home offices offered by manufacturers can meet the needs and specifications of every individual or business. The common thread is that they can be personalized to reflect the needs of families or individuals who use them, as well as create an atmosphere that is both functional and fashionable. "One person might prefer a more elegant or traditional workstation, while another may want today's high tech colors and sleek designs. Fortunately, there is a piece that suits every taste and style," says Hirschhaut.

All the Comforts of Home

"Just like any other room in your home, your home office should reflect who you are, what you like and what's comfortable for you," Hirschhaut concluded.

Do the bills in your household pile up on the counter? Does your kitchen table double as a computer desk? Take this quiz to determine if you're a candidate for a home office.

Quiz: Are You Ready for a Home Office?

Does your home computer make its home on your kitchen table? Do your dresser drawers double as your filing cabinet? Would you or your children benefit from an organized, well-lit workspace? Do you have some unused space in your home that could serve a more functional purpose?



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If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be ready for a home office.

-- R. Michael M.Sc., AEP Email This Page


.

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Using Checklists to Evaluate Risk FactorsMay 8, 2002

As Ergoweb reported in "MSD Risk Factors Cost Even Before They Injure" (

), recognizing risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) like force, awkward posture, and repetition can be a cost saving endeavor for companies.

Ergonomics Today™ May 3, 2002

But how do you identify and document the presence of risk factors? One way to start is through the use of checklists. For example, risk factors can be listed in a checklist format and identified as existing in a workplace with a Yes or No response. Expanded checklists may include additional information, such as an estimate of force or body angles, but usually the purpose of a checklist is to quickly and non-intrusively record job information during a facility walk-through.

Checklists are typically very qualitative in nature. That is, they will not provide quantitative risk assessment, but rather will document the existence of particular risk factors. Where more detailed risk assesment is desired, the evaluator should utilize job/task analysis methods that provide more detail and are more quantitative in nature (e.g., NIOSH Lifting Equation, biomechanical modeling, RULA, Strain Index, etc.).

Checklists can be useful as a first pass snapshot of potential risk in a job or task. For example, a risk factor checklist might include questions like:

Are there awkward postures?Is there static muscular work?Are there repetitive motions at a high rate?Are there heavy tools/parts that must be handled?

A "Yes" answer to a question does not mean that there is high risk of injury/illness, rather, the analyst's attention is drawn to that feature of the job/task for further review.

Risk factor checklists have certain advantages, including:

They can be tailored to a specific workplace, job, or task type.They can be used to identify higher priority jobs in terms of ergonomics concerns. They are usually fast, simple to administer, and easy to understand. They usually don't require special equipment or tools.

Risk factor checklists also have some disadvantages. Not having a comprehensive understanding of ergonomics, it may be easy to oversimplify a task or operation believing that a "simple checklist" will identify and control areas of concern. In fact, quite the opposite is true. A checklist will not comprehensively evaluate a work area, and usually provide little assistance in controlling identified concerns. These tasks are still the responsibility of the evaluator or ergonomist. A checklist can, however, aid the evaluator by helping to identify and prioritize tasks that may need further analysis or interventions.

This article is partially excerpted from Ergoweb's .Workplace Ergonomics Manual

-- R. Michael and Peter Budnick Email This Page

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Ergonomics and the TelecommuterJune 18, 2003

Over 28 million Americans went to work today without ever leaving their homes, courtesy of telecommuting. And each day, that number is increasing as employers are warming up to the idea that employees actually can work from home.

In a 2002 survey, AT&T, a vast proponent of teleworking, was found to be saving an estimated $25 million each year on office space in addition to over $65 million annually in improved productivity thanks to its home-based workers.

But as the number of teleworkers increases, the question that arises is how ergonomic is the home environment? Desks crammed into corners, sharing spaces with guest rooms, laptop computers on dining tables and chairs hauled down from someone’s attic can all compromise home office ergonomics.

At one point, OSHA tried to intervene. In late 1999, the agency issued an advisory letter regarding telecommuters that suggested employers be responsible for ergonomics at their workers’ in-home offices. The recommendations included periodic inspections by employers, a concept that didn’t bode well with either employer or employee. Subsequently, the letter was withdrawn and telecommuters were given back the responsibility of making their homes ergonomically sound business environments. With offices that double as kitchens and basements, that’s no easy feat.

“The biggest challenge is the space available for a home office,” says home office furniture designer Jack Kelly. “The scale of the furniture is very important. I’ve talked to interior designers who have converted living rooms into home offices. Also, shared spaces are another consideration,” Kelley says. People have to be able to live in their houses, says Kelley and very few people purchase a house with the notion that they may need to secure an extra bedroom for their employer. Plus, ergonomics are rarely at the top of the manufacturers’ to-do lists.

It’s not just the manufacturer, however, who takes the blame for the somewhat compromised ergonomic conditions of the home-based office. Employees tend to look for a couple of things, says Kelley; they either want inexpensive furnishings which could mean hand-me-downs from other parts of the home or they want styles that blend in with their decor – something that traditional office furniture has never been good at.

Some employers take the matter of ergonomics into their own hands. At Allina Metro Hospitals in Minnesota, for example, over 50 percent of the transcriptionists telecommute. According to Allina representative Barbara Lietz, the telecommuting program, which was started over 11 years ago, includes an on-site in-home evaluation. Plus, all telecommuters are provided an ergonomic chair and a computer and resource materials. “We are concerned for the well-being of our employees . . . medical transcription is a sedentary job and it is essential to implement ergonomic accommodations,” says Lietz. But not all employers take the extra steps to ensure that telecommuting employees’ workspaces are ergonomically sound.

Designer Kelley sees hope on the horizon for the ergonomics of telecommuting, noting design trends that incorporate appropriate lighting conditions into the furniture, office furnishings that are being scaled down to fit the home environment, and concepts like workstation armoires that function well as workstations when open but have the

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appearance of a well-designed hutch when closed. Kelley, who has been designing office furniture for decades, is also seeing more homes built with dedicated office spaces, indicating that the cramped multi-purpose room could eventually become a thing of the past. For the estimated 28 million Americans who never left their home today but still managed to punch the time clock, that all sounds like good ergonomic news.

For more information on setting up a home office with ergonomics in mind, see the June 2003 issue of .Editor’s Note:

The Ergonomics Report

Source:Data courtesy of International Telework Association and Council








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Improved Productivity Doesn't Have to Equal Increased StressSeptember 10, 2003

With recent productivity jumps indicating that American businesses are getting more bang for their employee buck, it seems like the picture being painted by last quarter’s 6.8 percent productivity increase would be a bright one. But more often than not in the recent weeks, those positive productivity improvements were turned into negatives: employee stress, job burnout, overworked workers.

A report earlier this month on MSNBC noted that Americans are reaching high work-related stress levels. The reason? Layoffs, pay cuts and cut-short vacation time means those employees who remain at a company have to pick up the slack of those who are gone. And Ronald Downey, Kansas State University Professor of Industrial and Occupational Therapy, concurred, telling MSNBC, “As the workforce has shrunk, people are overloaded and stress is the result. If the stress keeps on unending, then they’re in trouble.”

By trouble, Downey was referring to employees who take on more job responsibilities while losing control over work, racking up long work hours and trading in more of their free-time for work time. Stress, it has been found, can lead to physical health problems as well including an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to the MSNBC report, the American Psychological Association estimates that absences due to psychological problems cost the workplace over $57 billion annually and health care costs are nearly 50 percent higher for workers reporting high levels of stress.

But productivity doesn’t have to mean more stress on workers. By applying some basic ergonomics principals, workers can be more productive without being more stressed.

It simply comes down to understanding how people work and designing the workplace to best match those characteristics with business objectives. Is it easier to move a box from a shelf to a platform and back to a different shelf when packing it or could the entire process be done in one location? Is it faster for an attorney to dictate a letter that the assistant then listens to and retypes, edits and proofreads or could voice recognition software replace the dictation step?

Saving steps and increasing productivity and quality have long been goals of ergonomics, and these business goals should remain as valuable by-products when ergonomics is applied with a safety and health focus. As businesses look for new ways of solving the problems associated with workforce stress, ergonomics’ productivity-enhancing abilities and its positive impact on a business’ bottom line should be primary reasons to initiate ergonomic improvements.

Contact to learn more about how we can help your company improve its bottom line.

Ergoweb Inc.

Sources: Ergoweb Inc., MSNBC.com, ABCNews.com






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One-stop Solutions for Profitability, Productivity and SafetyNovember 6, 2002

Want to know more about how ergonomics can affect the company’s bottom line? Or how replacing a simple hand tool can impact worker performance? It’s all in Vegas at the 2002 National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition (NECE) 2002 where everything from basic office and industrial ergonomics to specifics regarding product designs or the economics of ergonomics will be presented to attendees of the annual event.

Featuring a host of experts in the ergonomics field, including Dr. Peter Budnick, C.P.E., President and CEO of Ergoweb Inc., the conference will offer solutions, suggestions and examples of what’s working today and what’s on the horizon for companies and their relationship with ergonomics.

Overall, more than a thousand professionals are expected to attend the 2002 NECE in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 9-12. Billed as the premier event for ergonomics, continuing education, and cutting edge solutions and technologies, the conference will feature over 50 sessions, keynote addresses and case studies from companies including Verizon, UPS, Toyota and United Technologies Corporation. Other featured topics including new approaches to maximizing an ergonomics budget and improving company profitability, plus an exhibition hall of new ideas and products, all aimed at helping companies improve productivity, safety and the bottom line.

For eight years, the NECE has offered the ergonomics community's an opportunity to see, touch and compare advances in materials handling devices, hand tools, office furniture, software, input devices and much more. In all, more than 100 exhibitors will participate in the exposition.

According to Walter Charnizon, President of Continental Exhibitions, Inc., which owns and operates the show, "the 2002 NECE is on track to be the largest yet, with registrations outpacing any previous year and with more ergonomics solutions than have ever been assembled in one place.” One reason for the popularity of this event is ergonomics' unmatched effectiveness for improving productivity and health and safety. "In this tight economy, companies are looking for effective ways to improve productivity and reduce costs, while at the same time protecting their workforce – their most valuable asset,” said Charnizon.

The NECE covers trends in ergonomics, from child safety to an aging workforce, as well as new approaches and technologies for business. In addition to course offerings in five tracks of programming, three keynote speakers will address NECE attendees including Verizon executive Jack D'Angelo discussing

OSHA’s John Henshaw discussing OSHA’s current approach to ergonomics, and finally a presentation on UPS’s ergonomics’ program and its impact on injury reduction, employee efficiency and comfort.

Ergonomics, the Board Room and the Bottom Line,

Dr. Budnick’s sessions will include a wide range of ergonomics-related topics, including, and

. Budnick will also act as moderator for the sessions, and

. Additionally, Budnick will host an informal luncheon-table discussion on

Product and Process Design to Benefit the Manufacturer and End Use Integrating Ergonomics into Corporate SuccessGaining Management Buy-In for Your Ergonomics Program Ergonomics Regulations and the Impact on Business

Evaluating the Design of Ergonomics Products.

For more information on the NECE conference program and to register, visit

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.www.ergoexpo.com

-- from NECE Email This Page







Side-Effects from SittingAugust 7, 2000

Sitting is a posture we have taken to new levels since the Industrial Revolution. Never in history have so many people sat still in a chair for such long periods of time. And companies are cashing in on chairs designed to tolerate even the toughest white-collar worker. A good chair is one solution, but learning how long to sit in it is another.

Between 75-85 percent of all people will experience some type of back pain at some point in their lives according to the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. In fact, more people see doctors for back pain that any other ailment except coughs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that back pain accounts for more than 40% of all occupational injuries in the U.S. that results in days away from work.

Most back pain can be associated with bad posture, sitting in the wrong type of office chair, sleeping in a bed without good support, lifting incorrectly or the weekend softball game. Whatever the cause, prevention is the key and the earlier the better. Ergonomic chairs for children is a market that is just beginning to take off as people become educated in this field.

A recent article in the Tampa Tribune interviewed Dr. Jay Brand who works for Haworth, a large office-furniture supplier. He summarized the sitting process as follows:

1. Within 8-10 minutes of sitting, gravity starts pushing the ischial tuberosities through their overlying tissues closing the surrounding capillaries.

2. Prostaglandin E2, a central nervous system depressant, is released into the bloodstream.

3. Fatigue sets in affecting performance and productivity.

Perhaps George Costanza from “Seinfeld” is onto something when he climbs under his desk for the afternoon snoozes. An article in msnbc.com had a statistic from a chiropractor showing there’s approximately 25 percent more pressure on your spine when you’re sitting than when you’re lying down.

So once you’ve purchased an ergonomic chair, remember to stand up, stretch, take a walk or do whatever it takes to get that pesty prostaglandin E2 out of your bloodstream. This might be just the excuse you need to justify more frequent office breaks.



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Can Ergonomics Fix Back Pain?September 1, 2003

It’s a fact – with or without ergonomics, 80 percent of all workers will still face some sort of low back pain at some point in their lives. So does that make ergonomics a futile effort in the fight against back pain? According to Stover Snook, Ph.D., CPE, in an

interview for , not at all, but it is time to refocus ergonomics to work back pain rather than just trying to it.

The Ergonomics Report™

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His idea is nothing new; Snook, a lecturer in Ergonomics in the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and a modern pioneer in ergonomics, first addressed the subject of ergonomics as a management tool for back pain rather than a preventive measure back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He noticed that the epidemiological data was indicating that regardless of intervention, low back pain would still exist.

And today, it’s no different. For most people, low back pain is just a part of aging and genetics, says Snook. Presently, back pain is the number two reason for missed days in the workforce, second only to the common cold. But even with the knowledge that the workforce is aging and that back pain accompanies the aging body, workplaces are still seemingly hesitant to refocus jobs to accept this fact.

“It gets down to an old ergonomics principal,” Snook said, indicating that jobs should be designed for the worker. “Yet we continue to design jobs for young strong people. The job doesn’t change throughout the years but the person does. We have to begin designing for older people.”

To learn more about Snook’s opinions, and to gain practical guidance for workplace

material handling, see the September, 2003 issue of .The Ergonomics Report™






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How Ergonomics Helped ArthritisDecember 4, 2002

Tuesday’s Arthritis Society of Quebec fundraiser treated the attendees to a special activity – a demonstration on how an ergonomic work station helps arthritis patients.

The goal of the demonstration, part of the annual fundraising campaign launch for the Society, was to show attendees and media representatives how basic ergonomics can help an arthritis sufferer in the workplace.

For the demonstration, the Society brought in a local arthritis patient whose employer had recently successfully assisted her by creating an ergonomics workstation to accommodate her arthritis. A sample workstation, like the one the employee uses, was set up, and attendees were instructed on the modifications and how these help an employee with arthritis.

“The event was wonderful,” said Line Vermette, Communications Director for the Arthritis Society of Quebec. “People were really excited about the activity.” Over 60 people attended the function, taking part in activities including viewing the ergonomic workstation and experimenting with exercises for working arthritis patients.

“Ergonomics are really important to help people living with arthritis [succeed in their jobs],” said Vermette. She also noted that a Canadian study being led by scientist Monique Gignac, Ph.D. on arthritis and the workplace is currently underway. The first results of the study have been used to create printed material and instructions regarding ergonomics and arthritis.

Currently, the society estimates that more than four million people in Canada have arthritis, with the majority being between the ages of 20 and 64. Preliminary findings from Gignac’s study indicate that thirty percent of the participants have to rearrange tasks, give up breaks, and rest during lunch in order to complete their work. Others in the survey stated that they could be missing out on further career opportunities because they could not take on new projects or responsibilities due to their arthritis.






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Is An “Ergonomic Chair” Enough?July 10, 2001

A golden rule in ergonomics is “one size does not fit all,” and adjustability is a key feature that can transform a typical chair into an “ergonomic chair.” But, as many companies have learned the hard way, an adjustable chair is not always enough.

Successful ergonomics requires a systems approach. An office chair is one component in the office system, and the person that sits in it is another. The stapler, telephone, computer, mouse, keyboard, desk, and other work tools are additional components in the system. How the person interacts with those components as he or she performs required work tasks is yet another part of the overall system. Selecting a chair without considering the rest of the system components and work tasks usually leads to a misfit and may introduce new, unforeseen problems into a workstation.

In order to fit the broad working population, a computer workstation must have multiple component adjustments, not just chair adjustments. If the chair is the only easily adjustable feature, most people will not be able to achieve their most efficient, productive, safe and comfortable working postures. This problem is not always obvious to the casual observer, and it therefore persists in many companies.

Anthropometry, the measurement and study of human body dimensions like height, weight, reach lengths, and eye heights, is one of the most important data sets applied by ergonomists working to fit people with their physical environment. It’s easy to see that people vary in height and weight, but it’s less obvious that we also vary in many other dimensions, such as leg and trunk lengths. For instance, some races have proportionally longer legs than other races, and even within the same race, specific body dimensions vary substantially from person to person.

To illustrate, imagine two women of the same height, standing side-by-side. We measure the hip height, which corresponds to leg length, and find that one has legs three inches longer than the other. Next, we measure seated knee height (popliteal height, as the dimension is technically called), and we find yet another difference between them. Finally, we ask each woman to sit in a chair and adjust the chair height so that each may comfortably rest her feet flat on the floor (shoe height introduces yet another variation). Even though they are the same standing height, we’ll find that the seated height may differ substantially, because their leg and their torso lengths are different. Important dimensions like seated eye and elbow heights will also be different, which means each will have different height requirements for their keyboards, mice, and monitors.

Contrary to claims otherwise, there is no perfect way to sit, nor is there a perfect way to arrange all workstations, even if the same job is being performed at each. Natural variability in people dictates that the system must be flexible in order to meet the unique needs and dimensions of all the different people that may interact with the system. An adjustable chair provides some of that flexibility, but not enough to accommodate the full, multifactorial spectrum of anthropometric variations. Simply put, the location of the computer keyboard and mouse need adjusting independent of the chair, as may the monitor.

The extent to which a system should be adjustable depends upon the nature and diversity of tasks to be performed at the workstation, and whether one individual person or a population of workers is being fitted to the system. If only one person will use the workstation, a one-time set-up and custom adjustment may suffice. If the

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workstation will be used by different people (e.g., shift work), a system that can be easily adjusted by each worker is recommended. Even without shift work, employee promotions, transfers, and turnover will result in different people using the same system, and adjustment will still be needed, just at a lower frequency.

There are several common and relatively inexpensive workstation components designed to accommodate variations in size and preference: footrests, keyboard and mouse platforms, and monitor arms or risers. When work surface or monitor heights are “too high,” a person may benefit from a footrest, allowing her to raise her seat, yet still be able to comfortably rest her feet. When desk height, and therefore the keyboard and mouse that rest on it, is “too high” or “too low,” an adjustable keyboard and mouse platform may help. And when the monitor height is “too high” or “too low,” monitor adjustments may help. Each of these accommodations have strengths and weaknesses.

Footrests: Relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Drawbacks include the potential for clutter under a desk, or even a tripping hazard, and may restrict freedom to move and achieve desirable dynamic postures throughout a workday. On the other hand, a footrest is a simple way to accommodate smaller people in particular, who often have difficulty keeping comfortable leg postures. If a footrest is selected, adjustable height and angle are recommended.

Keyboard and mouse trays: These are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and with a variety of adjustments. To be effective, the tray must be large enough to accommodate both the keyboard (and palm rest if desired) the mouse, side-by-side, and on the same level. Easy height adjustment and positive and negative tilt are recommended so that the user can reduce wrist deviations in a comfortable arm posture. There are drawbacks with such platforms. For example, they usually extend out from under the desk surface, pushing the worker further away from the work surface, and they can present an obstruction under the desk, sometimes hindering leg access and movement and interfering with chair arms. Quality is important when selecting these devices; be sure that the person can type and operate the mouse with stability (i.e., avoid “flimsy” models).

and

Monitor arms and risers: Monitor heights can be raised cheaply by using such things as old phone books. If a more tasteful solution is deired, there are a variety of monitor raising products on the market, including stackable trays or adjustable arms. Lowering a monitor is limited by the work surface height and monitor design, unless a recessed monitor desk is selected.

Ergonomists often feel that these types of accommodations are at best a retrofit to a system with deeper problems. Ultimately, the best solution is to provide an easily adjustable work surface, not just adjustable add-ons. In fact, work surfaces that adjust through a height range from seated work to standing work are no longer uncommon. Such systems allow workers to adjust to different heights for different tasks, or to make postural adjustments for comfort and fatigue over the course of the workday.

In many cases, cost is the deciding factor when selecting between add-ons or fully adjustable work surfaces. However, more manufacturers are offering fully adjustable systems or work surface adjustment retrofits, and competition is driving prices down. Furthermore, a larger upfront investment can result in significant future savings.

To learn more about adjustable products for office systems, visit the Ergobuyer® buyers guide system at .http://ergoweb.com/ergobuyer

-- Peter Budnick, Ph.D., CPE Email This Page



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Stress and Fatigue in the WorkplaceSeptember 15, 2001

We have all felt the unproductive effects of stress or fatigue on our work. For most of us it seems 'common sense', that our work quality and productivity will be compromised if we are feeling stressed that day, but what are companies doing to combat this? Do they even recognize the problem?

Safety and Health Agencies in the UK and New Zealand have compiled research, issuing statements and guidelines for combating stress and fatigue in the workplace.

The New Zealand Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) says that working for long periods without sleep can leave workers so fatigued that it has the same effects as drinking on the job. OSH originally published a guide for employers on stress and fatigue in 1998. They are currently reviewing the guide with specific attention to stress and fatigue in two working situations.

The first situation is work that inherently contains situations or circumstances that are difficult to cope with. This may include healthcare workers, the police or social workers. The second situation is work that does not inherently contain stressful factors but is organized in such a way that coping may be difficult.

In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a comprehensive guide on preventing work-related stress. In the UK stress-related illness is responsible for the loss of 6.5 million working days each year, costing employers around £370 million and society as a whole as much as £3.75 billion. An estimated half a million people in Britain are suffering from work-related stress, anxiety or depression at levels that make them ill.

HSE's stress spokesperson, Elizabeth Gyngell, is quoted as saying, "Work-related stress is a huge occupational health problem facing Britain today, inflicting a heavy toll both in terms of financial cost and human suffering. We recognise that there is considerable pressure in the modern competitive work place, but there is a difference between the buzz people get from doing a busy job and staff simply being unable to cope with the strains placed upon them. A burnt-out workforce is an unproductive workforce and it is in no one's interests to find themselves in this situation."

The UK Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has identified stress as one of its eight priority programs aimed at reducing accidents, injuries and ill-health in the workplace.£ 1 = $ 1.47



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How’s Your Posture Holding Up?July 10, 2000

Posture is the position of the body while performing work activities. Most of us realize that awkward posture is associated with an increased risk for injury. But when are we at risk?

It is generally considered that the more a joint deviates from the neutral position, the greater the risk of injury. For example:

At the wrist:

Flexion and extension position was associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Ulnar (sideways) deviation of greater than 20 degrees was associated with increased pain and pathological findings.

At the shoulder:

Abduction or flexion of greater than 60 degrees maintained for more than one hour/day was associated with acute shoulder and neck pain.A hand at or above shoulder height was associated with tendonitis and various shoulder pathologies.A position of 30 degrees of flexion took 300 minutes to produce severe pain symptoms while a position of 60 degrees of flexion took 120 minutes to produce severe pain symptoms.Extension with arm elevation was associated with neck/shoulder pain/stiffness, shoulder muscle tenderness and pain in the neck motion.

At the low back:

Trunk sagittal angle (bending over) was associated with occupationally related low back disorder.

Posture issues can be created by work methods such as bending and twisting to pick up a box or bending the wrist to assemble a part. Other problems arise from workplace dimensions such as extended reach to obtain a part from a bin at a high location or kneeling in the storage bay of an airplane due to confined space while handling luggage.

-- Tim Villnave, M.S.P.H., D.C. Email This Page


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Dutch Study Looks at Neck Pain and Sitting PostureMay 16, 2001

The study concludes that the prevention of neck pain should focus on the reduction of time spent working in a sitting position and the promotion of more dynamic working postures.

In a study published in the March edition of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dutch researchers examine neck flexion, neck rotation, and a seated posture as possible risk factors for the development of neck pain.

The prospective cohort study took place over 3 years and included 1334 workers. Workers were selected from various industrial and service areas including the metal industry, computer software industry, chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, food industry, wood construction industry, insurance companies, child care centers, hospitals, distribution companies and bricklayers.

Data was gathered through video analysis and questionnaires.

The study quotes neck pain as a major health problem in the modern society with one year prevalence rates among a general population as high as 40%. The background of the study also notes that neck pain is assumed to be of multifactorial origin, implying that several risk factors can contribute to its development.

The study came to the following conclusions:

There is a significant positive association between prolonged sitting at work and neck pain, implying that there is an increased risk of neck pain for people who work more than 95% of the time in a sitting position.There is a positive trend for an association between neck pain and neck flexion at work, suggesting that there is an increased risk of neck pain for people who are working with the neck flexed more than 20 degrees for a major part of the working day. No clear relation was found between neck rotation at work and neck pain. Here researchers note that the power to investigate prolonged neck rotation was limited in this study.

This study was done in part by the TNO Work and Employment. The TNO is the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research. The Work and Employment division dates back to 1891. The TNO seeks and develops innovative approaches to work, organization and technology towards the creation of conditions which will allow employees to work in a productive and healthy way.

For more information visit the .TNO



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Buyer's Guide







Current Research in ErgonomicsOctober 15, 2001

Many people write to Ergoweb and ask us, "Is there any research on back pain and the workplace?". The answer is a resounding YES! Every month researchers from around the world publish new findings on the correlations, or in some cases the lack thereof, between back pain/injury and workplace risk factors.

Two such research projects were published in the November, 2001, issue of the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Sampling over 8,200 workers a Canadian study tries to relate back problems and physical as well as psychosocial issues in the workplace. The study found that high physical exertion was an independent predictor of back problems in both sexes. For both men and women, low social support at work and high job insecurity were independent predictors of restricted activity due to musculoskeletal disorders. Conversely, chronic back problems contributed to explanation of high job strain among women and high physical exertion among men. Restricted activity due to musculoskeletal disorders contributed to explanation of high job insecurity in both sexes.

Another study, completed by researchers in Germany, looked at specific medical conditions of the low back, and their relationship to repeated occupational exposure to lifting or carrying and to working postures with extreme forward bending.

The results of the study suggest that cumulative occupational exposure to lifting or carrying and extreme forward bending, and the lumbar forces associated with these activities, increases the risk for developing symptomatic osteochondrosis or spondylosis (a general term for degenerative changes in the spine) of the lumbar spine.

A third study in this issue changes the focus to shiftwork. In this study relating shiftwork to possible metabolic changes, Swedish researchers found that shiftworkers, as opposed to day workers, had a higher incidence of obesity, high triglycerides, and low concentrations of HDL cholesterol.

For more information about these studies see Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

At Ergoweb, we strive to provide our members with the most up to date information about ergonomics. As part of this we like to focus on current research and application throughout the broad field of ergonomics. If you or your company are in the process of, or have completed research related to ergonomics let us know by emailing

[email protected]



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Is Back Pain In Your Future?October 27, 2003

Eighty percent of all people will face low back pain at some point during their lives. Ever wish you could know beforehand if you were going to be one of the unlucky ones? A new on-line quiz from the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) might be able to help.

But it’s not luck the CCA is focusing on, it’s lifestyle and habits. Through their short quiz covering work, lifestyle, exercise and even sleep habits, the CCA is hoping to open some eyes to a few common causes of back problems and maybe even change a habit or two.

The quiz, part of the CCA’s national public awareness campaign “What’s Holding You Back?” asks participants to answer a handful of questions regarding potential back-pain contributors like back packs and sleeping position, and then takes the participant’s score and determines the likelihood of future back pain.

The association developed the quiz and campaign in response to a recent survey in which it was determined that over 22 million Canadians experience back pain each year. Thirty percent of the respondents said their pain lasted for more than a month and kept them from performing certain activities. Most of the respondents reported doing little more than toughing out their pain or taking an aspirin.

Ergonomics, however, has the potential to make back pain more manageable. In the

September, 2003 issue of , Stover Snook, Ph.D., CPE, stated that the key to keeping back pain from impacting a workforce is by designing jobs with the assumption that the worker have back pain. Ultimately that means jobs should be designed so that the worker with back pain can comfortably perform the job; additionally, workers without back pain would likely be facing fewer risk factors for back pain as well. For more information on the CCA’s “What’s Holding You Back?” campaign, including a link to the quiz, visit www.ccachiro.org. To request a free copy of

, published monthly by Ergoweb Inc., visit .


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Will Ergonomics Really Cost Jobs?October 22, 2003

One side says it will protect workers’ jobs; the other side says it will protect workers at their jobs. Now voters in the state of Washington are faced with the task of determining just how important a slight difference in wording is when it comes to the fate of that state’s ergonomics rule. And next month, they’ll offer their opinions at the poll: to keep or not to keep the ergonomics rule?

For an off-year election, where mostly local government offices are at stake and the polls attract their lowest voter turnouts, Initiative 841, a.k.a. I-841, is spicing up what would otherwise be a relatively bland election season.

For starters, the initiative, one that would repeal Washington’s current ergonomics rule and any future ergonomics rules that the state might try to pass, is pitting big business against organized labor. But rather than letting these two traditional foes duke it out themselves, I-841 is turning the decision-making over to the voters.

But the decision to put ergonomics on the ballot doesn’t come as a surprise to any of the involved parties. Says David Groves, spokesperson for Working Families for Safer Jobs, also known as the No On 841 Committee, “Anyone with enough money can get something on the ballot here.”

Like everyone else, Groves’ group – the organized labor side of the debate – has been working with the state’s ergonomics rule for over three years, his side being for it. According to him, the rule was imposed to keep Washington workers healthy at work, to save industry money in the form of workers compensation claims, and to make working in Washington a safer bet for everyone. That, however, isn’t what the opposition is saying. Their battle cry screams of the huge expenditures with little return on investment for businesses attempting to comply with the mandatory regulation and a loss of full-time jobs for workers. Groves says neither of these assertions is true.

“The people who sponsored [I-841] are opposed to regulation regardless of the logic. For 10 years, we have done education and volunteer efforts to promote ergonomics in the workplace, but still [in a poll by Washington’s labor department] 40 percent of Washington employers acknowledged that they had ergonomics hazards in the workplace but have done nothing about them,” says Groves. His goal now is to educate the voters on what he says is the truth about Washington’s ergonomics rule.

“The misinformation that’s being presented is our biggest challenge. And we’re going to be outspent three or four to one. They call [the ergonomics rule] a job killer,” says Groves. He is trying to quickly refute these claims, though hampered with a relative shoestring budget that involves a mostly grassroots campaign.

According to Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), the enforcement body for the ergonomics rule, the rule itself was put into place to address more than 50,000 work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) reported in Washington each year and the over $400 million dollar annual price tag, comprised of lost wages and medical care, associated with them. Groves states that the rule isn’t out to hurt business, “the rule is for those who continue to ignore workers.”

A spokesperson at L&I seems to agree, noting that businesses without jobs that could be listed as “caution” or “hazard” zone jobs don’t have to do anything. If the

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employer has jobs that are categorized as a caution zone job, the employer would have to provide ergonomics education to the workers in those jobs. If the employer has jobs in the “hazard zone,” it would be required to try to bring down the job’s hazard level. But, says the L&I spokesperson, an employer would not be required to reduce hours and under no circumstances would employees in hazard zone jobs be forced out of a job or into a part-time job. As for enforcement, says L&I, the same penalty structure that has been in place in the state for the past 30 years will be used. But even the L&I representative admits that the state only has sufficient inspectors to check each workplace about once every 35 years or so.

So why all the fuss over a little rule? Worker health aside, it comes down to a question of money and how much it will cost the workplaces in Washington to comply. I-841 proponents toss around a $725 million annual figure for compliance. And that’s a number few voters could scoff at, until recently.

Groves indicates that the $725 million figure came from a cost analysis commissioned by the Association of Washington Businesses in 2000 and headed by consultant Steven Moss of California-based M Cubed. While the figure itself had always been considered rather controversial, when Moss published a tell-all regarding his work habits as an expert witness (“... experts, who are hired and paid by one side in a case, get compensated for saying what the lawyers want to hear,” wrote Moss in "Opinions For Sale; Confessions of an Expert Witness." , March/April 2003.), in the eyes of the I-841 opponents, that number became almost laughable.

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The compliance figure calculated by the state is much lower. “The state has done its own cost benefit analysis. They estimate the total investment will be $80 million in the first year for all employers in the state, and [the employers should] expect to realize more than $300 million in benefits,” says Groves. Those benefits, he says, will be realized by the increased productivity and decreased number of injuries incurred by workers when offered ergonomics interventions.

Plus, in a state where workers compensation insurance rates are jumping by 20 percent this year, Groves notes that the state’s attempt to bring down claims costs through an ergonomics rule is perfectly valid. “Nearly one-half of all costs to the [state-run] workers comp system are associated with these types of injuries. As an insurance company, if they didn’t try to bring down the costs, they’d be negligent,” he says.

“If I’m a safe employer who has never had an injury, my workers comp rates are going up this year regardless. But there are two ways to control rising costs – you can fight to reduce the benefits paid to injured workers or you can focus on reducing these injuries,” says Groves. He believes that for the sake of everyone involved, lowering the potential for injuries is the far greater value. But the challenge now is to convince voters, who are being bombarded by costly media messages that claim the ergonomics measure threatens to kill jobs and employee health insurance coverage, delivered courtesy of the big business proponents of I-841. And that’s a tough challenge when I-841 pits business against organized labor and only 20 percent of the state’s voting population are members of labor organizations.

“I think an important public policy decision is going to be made based on sound bites and misinformation,” says Groves. “The [ergonomics] rule was first implemented over three years ago. [The supporters of I-841] tried to overturn the rule in the legislature and in the courts, but failed. They’ve spent millions already to try to kill this thing; this is a last ditch effort.”

Aside from the fight, if voters look at the facts behind the rule itself, Groves thinks they’d see that for a business, compliance isn’t such a big deal. “Really, all [a business] has to do in many cases is offer training. These are just commonsense things that employers should be doing anyway,” he says.

This article is the final installment of a three-part series exploring all Editor’s Note:



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sides of the upcoming vote to overturn Washington’s ergonomics rule through Initiative 841. While this installment focuses on the oppostion to the initiative, previous installments presented the proponents’ views (

, , October 15, 2003) as well as an overview of Initiative 841 ( , , October 8, 2003).

“Saying No to Ergonomics Could Be a Mouthful” Ergonomics Today

“Ergonomics Battle Heats Up” Ergonomics Today








How Does the Insurer See Back Pain?September 3, 2003

By the end of this year’s legislative session, California lawmakers are expected to have a grasp on their state’s troubled workers’ compensation program. And if not, they’ll be facing a promised special session, courtesy of the state’s governor, that will require them to fix the system ASAP.

In a state where workers’ compensation costs for businesses have doubled in the past two years and are scheduled to increase again in January 2004, the lure of a reformed system is promising. But so is lowering costs and expenses through decreasing the number of on-the-job injuries – a task custom-built for ergonomics.

Take back injuries, for example. Statistics show that in the U.S., two percent of all workers will receive some sort of compensation for a back injury this year, and that annually, the compensation payouts can run into the billions. “Medical treatment of these injuries is becoming costlier and more prolonged. Injuries are resulting in higher levels of permanent disability than in the past which makes them more expensive and increases frictional costs in the system,” says Dan Hair, MSS, CSP, Senior Vice President and National Director, Safety & Health for Zenith Insurance Company.

It’s a not a situation of employers blatantly ignoring the problem of back pain and injury, but it could be a situation where employers aren’t taking quite the right steps to minimize the potential for injury. “Many more employers are now relying on Early Return to Work programs but the literature suggests that injured employees often have lingering problems, probably because the modified duty has not been closely matched with the injured workers physical limitations,” says Hair. “[W]e must get better at disability management to have an impact on the enormous costs they generate.”

So how can an employer improve back pain related disability management? Hair’s company takes the approach with its own clients that each workplace, like each worker, has its own unique features that require a customized plan.

“First we work with the employer to help them develop a sound and comprehensive safety and health program, appropriate to their needs, exposure and regulatory environment. Second, we work with them on reducing low back injuries by attacking the exposures that produce or may produce them,” says Hair.

But Hair also has some general advice for any business that is attempting to manage back pain:

Proactively assess and mitigate where possible all exposures that could lead to illness or injury.Report injuries/illnesses immediately to the insurance carrier and regulatory authorities.Stay involved with injured workers to provide safe transitional work as soon as possible.Make sure all employees have the training, tools and physical ability to safely do their jobs.

“Healthy workers are generally more productive workers and every employer has sound financial reasons for doing all in their power to prevent low back injury to them,” says Hair.

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For more information on managing back pain in the workplace, see the September

2003 issue of The Ergonomics ReportTM.

Have your own opinion on the subject? Send it to [email protected]








More Liberty Mutual Data on Workplace SafetySeptember 26, 2001

In August, Ergoweb reported on the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. Since then, more details of Liberty Mutual's survey have become available.

Liberty Mutual data shows that ninety-five percent of business executives report that workplace safety has a positive impact on a company's financial performance. Of these executives, 61 percent believe their companies receive a return on investment of $3 or more for each $1 they invest in improving workplace safety.

The survey also reveals executives realize the benefits of workplace safety go beyond the company's bottom-line, with 70 percent reporting that protecting employees is a leading benefit of workplace safety.

The survey also helps shed light on the impact two types of costs associated with workplace accidents are having on U.S. businesses: Direct costs, or payments to injured employees and their medical care providers, and Indirect costs, such as lost productivity, overtime costs, etc. Ninety-three percent of executives surveyed see a relationship between these costs, with 40 percent of them reporting $1 of direct cost generates between $3 and $5 of indirect costs. These figures are in line with other agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), who indicate that indirect costs associated with a workplace injury can be as much as three to five times the direct costs.

By comparing the findings on indirect costs with its own research on the direct costs of workplace accidents and illness, Liberty Mutual calculates U.S. businesses are paying a staggering $155 billion to $232 billion on workers compensation losses annually. The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index announced this spring provided the first-ever ranking of the 10 leading causes of workplace accidents based on the direct cost of each accident cause. The Index estimated the total direct cost of all workplace accidents was $38.7 billion in 1998, the most recent year for which data was available at the time.

Moreover, the survey findings reveal that business executives may be focusing attention on certain causes of workplace accidents at the expense of others, and may need to realign their workplace safety priorities.

For example, executives report "Repetitive Motion" is the most important cause of workplace accidents and that they will focus workplace safety resources on this accident cause. However, five other accident causes each produced greater direct costs for companies in 1998, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. The Index reported that workplace injuries caused by "Repetitive Motion" produced $2.3 billion in direct costs for employers in 1998, about a quarter of the $9.8 billion of the leading accident cause - "Overexertion."

Many have focused on ergonomics and certain musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) also being labeled repetitive motion injuries (RMI). What is not always apparent is that many overexertion injuries are caused by the same risk factors and RMIs, most specifically high force being produced in an awkward posture. Effective ergonomics analysis and proper controls can reduce exposure to these types of risk factors.

"Workplace safety has a ripple affect, either positive or negative, on so many aspects of U.S. business operations today," said Joseph Gilles, Liberty Mutual Executive Vice

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President, Commercial Insurance. "The first step for executives is to take preemptive measures to prevent employee pain and suffering caused by workplace injuries. Identifying the accident causes that have the greatest impact on their company and focusing workplace resources on these will help a company reduce costs and achieve strategic corporate goals -- such as assuring employee satisfaction and health, positioning the company as a low-cost provider, shortening production and delivery time, and improving product quality. Given the importance of workplace safety, companies should make sure their efforts are directed at those accident causes that have the greatest potential impact on their operations and employees." Mr. Gilles is available to comment on The Executive Survey of Workplace Safety.

Further results include:

95% of respondents believe workplace safety has a positive impact on a company's financial performance.24% report a substantial positive impact86 % of respondents feel workplace safety provides a return on investment61 % feel that $3 or more is saved for each $1 invested13 % report $10 is returned for each $1 invested93 % report a close relationship between the direct and indirect costs associated with a workplace accident40 % feel that between $3 and $5 dollars of indirect costs exist for each $1 of direct costsThe median response was that $3 of indirect costs exist for each $1 of direct costs82 % of respondents feel their company currently places a high priority on workplace safety70% of respondents report that protecting employees is a leading benefit of workplace safety.49% report that protecting employees from the human and financial costs is the top benefit25% of respondents report that employee training is the most important element of an effective workplace safety program.22% believe that management commitment is the most important element16% believe internal communication is the most important element98% feel that direct employee participation is necessary for effective workplace safety. 69% believe it's criticalRespondents report that benchmarking a company's workplace safety performance is an important tool for improving workplace safety performance over time.71% indicate that they compare their company's workplace safety performance to other companies

Survey results are based on interviews with 200 executives responsible for workers compensation and other commercial insurances at 125 mid-size firms (100 to 999 employees) and 75 large companies (over 1,000 employees) representing a range of geographic locations and industries.

This survey is part of Liberty Mutual's ongoing focus on Workplace Safety. It follows the Spring 2001 release of the Workplace Safety Index, the first ranking of accident causes by direct costs to employers using Liberty Mutual claims data, combined with findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance. Both studies are available at www.libertymutual.com.

-- Edited by Rachel Michael Email This Page



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History of ErgonomicsMay 12, 2000

Humans discovered the use of tools early on in development. Australopithecus Prometheus selected pebble tools and made scoops from antelope bones in a clear display of selecting/creating objects to make tasks easier to accomplish.

In the work environment, the selection and creation of tools, machines, and work processes continued. Over centuries, the effectiveness of hammers, axes and plows improved. With the Industrial Revolution, machines such as the spinning jenny and rolling mills were developed to improve work processes. This is the same motivation behind much of ergonomics today.

The association between occupations and musculoskeletal injuries was documented centuries ago. Bernardino Ramazinni (1633-1714) wrote about work-related complaints (that he saw in his medical practice) in the 1713 supplement to his 1700 publication, “De Morbis Artificum (Diseases of Workers).”

Wojciech Jastrzebowski created the word ergonomics in 1857 in a philosophical narrative, “based upon the truths drawn from the Science of Nature” (Jastrzebowski, 1857).

In the early 1900’s, the production of industry was still largely dependent on human power/motion and ergonomic concepts were developing to improve worker productivity. Scientific Management, a method that improved worker efficiency by improving the job process, became popular.

Frederick W. Taylor was a pioneer of this approach and evaluated jobs to determine the “One Best Way” they could be performed. At Bethlehem Steel, Taylor dramatically increased worker production and wages in a shoveling task by matching the shovel with the type of material that was being moved.

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth made jobs more efficient and less fatiguing through time motion analysis and standardizing tools, materials and the job process. By applying this approach, the number of motions in bricklaying was reduced from 18 to 4.5 allowing bricklayers to increase their pace of laying bricks from 120 to 350 bricks per hour.

World War II prompted greater interest in human-machine interaction as the efficiency of sophisticated military equipment (i.e., airplanes) could be compromised by bad or confusing design. Design concepts of fitting the machine to the size of the soldier and logical/understandable control buttons evolved.

After World War II, the focus of concern expanded to include worker safety as well as productivity. Research began in a variety of areas such as:

Muscle force required to perform manual tasksCompressive low back disk force when liftingCardiovascular response when performing heavy laborPerceived maximum load that can be carried, pushed or pulled

Areas of knowledge that involved human behavior and attributes (i.e., decision making process, organization design, human perception relative to design) became known as cognitive ergonomics or human factors. Areas of knowledge that involved physical

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tools early on in Australopithecus Prometheus selected

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selection and creation continued.



aspects of the workplace (force required to lift, vibration and reaches) became known as industrial ergonomics or ergonomics.

The broad group focus and name duality continues at this time. Contributors to ergonomics/human factors concepts include industrial engineers, industrial psychologists, occupational medicine physicians, industrial hygienists, and safety engineers. Professions that use ergonomics/human factors information include architects, occupational therapists, physical therapists, occupational medicine nurses, and insurance loss control specialists.

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What is Cognitive Ergonomics?June 11, 2001

Editor's Note: This is a revised version of which

appeared in Ergonomics Today(TM)on June 11, 2001.

Cognitive Ergonomics and Engineering Psychology

Ergonomics is sometimes described as "fitting the system to the human," meaning that through informed decisions; equipment, tools, environments and tasks can be selected and designed to fit unique human abilities and limitations. Typical examples in the "physical ergonomics" arena include designing a lifting job to occur at or near waist height, selecting a tool shape that reduces awkward postures, and reducing unnecessary tasks and movements to increase production or reduce errors and waste. "Cognitive ergonomics," on the other hand, focuses on the fit between human cognitive abilities and limitations and the machine, task, environment, etc. Example cognitive ergonomics applications include designing a software interface to be "easy to use," designing a sign so that the majority of people will understand and act in the intended manner, designing an airplane cockpit or nuclear power plant control system so that the operators will not make catastrophic errors.

Cognitive ergonomics is especially important in the design of complex, high-tech, or automated systems. A poorly designed cellular phone user-interface may not cause an accident, but it may well cause great frustration on the part of the consumer and result in a marketplace driven business failure. A poor interface design on industrial automated equipment, though, may result in decreased production and quality, or even a life threatening accident.

Complex automated systems create interesting design challenges, and research and post accident analysis indicate that the human role in automated systems must be closely considered. Automation can result in increased operator monitoring and vigilance requirements, complex decision-making requirements, and other issues that can increase the likelihood of errors and accidents.

Another interesting effect in automation is that humans will sometimes over-trust or mistrust an automated system.

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident is in part an example of the effect of people over-trusting a system. During that event, the control panel indicated that an important valve had operated as instructed, and the control room operators trusted the system was reporting accurately. Actually, the valve had not operated as instructed, and it became a key point in the failure that resulted in a serious mishap. (Interestingly, some will blame the operators, when in fact, under the mental load created by the evolving accident, they performed as an ergonomist would expect. The actual cause of the accident is a control system design error that provided incorrect information to the operators).

An example of mistrusting a system occurred at a medium security women's prison in Oregon, USA, when a new surveillance system was installed. The alarm was triggered whenever it sensed motion in particular areas of the facility. During the first few weeks, the alarm was repeatedly triggered by everything from birds to leaves blowing in the wind. The guards became conditioned to the fact that it often triggered in error, and began to ignore it. Using this to her advantage, a prisoner climbed over the fences knowing that the alarm would go off, but that the guards would most likely ignore it long enough for her to escape. It worked. When this same mistrust effect occurs with something as important as a fire alarm, the results can be deadly.

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Physical ergonomics issues, primarily in the workplace, dominate the public view and understanding of ergonomics. Fortunately, ergonomists are busy behind the scenes working to improve all human-machine interfaces, including the cognitive aspects. Unfortunately, many companies, engineers, regulators, and other decision makers fail to recognize the human factor in design, and many unnecessary errors, accidents, product failures and other business costs are the predictable result.

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Back Pain in Gynecologists: Are workplace risk factors to blame?December 19, 2001

One study says YES, that there is a higher incidence of back pain among gynecologists compared to the general public, and that specific workplace risk factors, such as awkward posture, is a likely cause.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Occupational Health, researchers L. M. Dolan and D. H. Martin of Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Northern Ireland looked at the prevalence of back pain in over 100 gynecologists. The study used a questionnaire, which received a 94% response rate to questions about location and degree of back pain.

Results showed that the prevalence of backache, which included pain arising in the thoracic and lumbosacral regions, was 72%. Fifty-three per cent of those with back pain blamed it on working in obstetrics and gynecology. Overall, 32% of gynecologists required a change of their work practice, 20% had taken time off work and 8% had required surgery.

In an interview reported by Reuters, Martin said that although his survey was confined to gynecologists in Northern Ireland, there was no reason to suspect the findings would be different elsewhere in the UK. While the study did not examine the causes of work-related backache, he said it's likely the particular physical demands involved in gynecology that were to blame.

``What we have done is highlight a problem which we do not think is unique to Northern Ireland. I have knowledge of gynecologists elsewhere with similar problems." And adding that, "doctors are not the best at declaring their own health problems.''

Martin said further studies examining the ergonomics of gynecology must now be carried out to pinpoint the major stresses and to improve prevention of backache.



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Ergonomics Research Hopes to Make Hospitals SaferNovember 1, 2001

Ergonomics is about matching the environment to the human. Many times we focus on a narrow environment such as a chair, desk, or assembly line. This thinking can be broadened to include whole environments like an off shore oil rig, or a hospital operating room. This broadened approach to looking at ergonomics is sometimes known as a systems approach, or macro-ergonomics.

It is through this broad scope of matching the environment to known human capabilities and limitations that the newly created San Diego Center for Patient Safety (SDCPS) hopes to improve patient safety and reduce the occurrence and severity of medical errors.

To accomplish this, the SDCPS has established a joint effort between the Veterans Affairs (VA) San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego Health Sciences. The efforts are funded by a three-year, $590,000 grant by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The SDCPS is directed by Matthew B. Weinger, M.D. Dr. Weinger is a Professor of Anesthesiology at the UCSD School of Medicine, and also Director of the Anesthesia Ergonomics Research Laboratory at the VASDHS.

Weinger has stated that the SDCPS' activities will promote the concept that clinical care providers can and should create safety. This is in contrast to the view that safety issues arise because clinicians make errors.

To give an example, assume there are two switches side by side at the foot of a patient's bed. These switches are the same size, shape, and color but are used to administer two very different medications. In a high stress situation what is the risk that the incorrect medication would be administered? Does the design of the system (switches) lend to making a mistake or preventing a mistake. If the switches were different sizes or shapes, or on opposite sides of the bed, could an error be avoided? These are the types of questions that a macro-ergonomics approach to a design or analysis tries to answer.

Another factor of particular interest to SDCPS is the role of communication - between the clinician and patient, and between clinicians - in diagnosis and treatment. According to SDCPS, previous studies have shown that communication failure is a contributor to medical errors, and in a diverse community like San Diego, with language and cultural influences coming into play, the risk of error and injury increases.

SDCPS is part of a wider effort by both the VA San Diego Healthcare System and UCSD Health Sciences to improve patient safety. Weinger recently received more than $1 million in new grant support to study unexpected clinical events during anesthesia and surgery.


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Ergonomics for Elementary School StudentsJuly 1, 2002

While senators and labor officials argue over ergonomics definitions and injury rates some elementary schools are taking the opportunity to improve ergonomics for their students.

An innovative program at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington, is trying to teach students, some as young as five, that fitting the environment to you is a good thing.

Diane Tien, the school’s instructional technology assistant, with help from some of the country’s leading experts in children’s ergonomics developed the program. Speaking about the program philosophy, Tien states, “It isn’t so much that [the students] have to learn what the definition of ergonomics is, they have to understand their own physical needs first.”

The issue of children and ergonomics has recently been getting more attention. In December of 2001, MSNBC included this issue in a five-part series titled, “The working wounded”.

According to MSNBC, some surveys indicate that fourth-graders spend 9 percent of their time on computers; by 12th grade, that proportion jumps to 19 percent. The University of Rochester, found similar evidence when they asked sixth- through eighth-graders whether they experienced computer-related aches or pains at home or school. A total of 47 percent experienced discomfort with wrists; 44 percent with neck; 43 percent with eyes and 41 percent with hands.

There are resources available for educational institutions that wish to explore how to improve ergonomics for their students.

In September, 2001, Ergoweb reported on a new technical committee, Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments, established by The International Ergonomics Association (IEA). Objectives of the committee include:

Defining strategies to inexpensively retrofit or redesign existing furniture used in computer environments at home, and in schools, libraries, children's museums and other educational environments; Promoting the development of ergonomic design guidelines (or codes of practice) for software, hardware, furniture, classrooms, computer rooms, school libraries and other educational environments.

The program at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary will focus on teaching children about minimizing awkward postures and the importance of taking breaks during computer work or play.

More information about the committee, Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments, can be found at .http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=414






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Ergonomics Enters the ClassroomAugust 20, 2003

How many states in the U.S. provide for ergonomics education in the classroom? If you said zero, give yourself a perfect score.

Aside from a few states’ attempts to limit the weight of books and supplies being crammed into a student’s backpack, very little information regarding ergonomics is being presented to children at school. Yet these same kids sit in desks, work on computers, play sports and video games, and are continually reporting more and more injuries that could be mitigated by proper ergonomics.

Currently only one state, New Jersey, has begun to address the concept of teaching ergonomics as part of the public school curriculum by setting up a task force to determine if and how ergonomics education should be taught by public schools. Almost everywhere else, ergonomics are left up to the individual schools and districts. A quick glance at a public school computer lab shows children sitting on rigid, non-adjustable one-size-fits-all chairs; another look into the elementary school classroom shows teachers attempting to physically get on the same level as their students in pint-sized desks. End result? Ergonomics isn’t there.

Some ergonomists are taking matters into the classroom themselves, like Maureen Graves Anderson, AHFT, an ergonomics consultant from Maine. When she heard that her children’s school was having a health fair, she called to offer her services for a short presentation on computer ergonomics. The school immediately signed her up.

Her presentation was brief: five minutes was all the time she was allocated, but she made the most of it, discussing posture and taking breaks from computer work. “I hooked one kid from each class to a biofeedback monitor. . . to show muscle activity from reaching forward to keyboard and to the side to a mouse. The kids really liked the demo. I also gave them a one-page handout to take home to parents on ergonomics and home computer use.”

For Graves Anderson, the five minutes wasn’t much, but it was . “I know of at least two kids who went home and told their parents about it,” she said, plus teachers reported that kids were talking about the ergonomics presentation in the classroom.

something

As a mother and an ergonomics professional, teaching children more about ergonomics is extremely important to Graves Anderson. “All of them have computers at home. Plus they’re young, they’re forming their habits, so it makes sense to talk to them about using computers,” Graves Anderson said. After all, these kids are in school today to learn how to tackle the workforce tomorrow.






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Ergonomics for Children and Educational EnvironmentsSeptember 28, 2001

The International Ergonomics Association has a new technical committee, Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments. The first meeting was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety in June.

The Committee Mission states:

The purpose of the Ergonomics for Children and Educational Environments Technical Committee is to provide a forum for the international exchange of scientific and technical ergonomics information related to children and educational environments. The Committee promotes professional and public awareness of ergonomics related to children of all abilities in all aspects of their lives and the application of ergonomics in all educational environments.

The objectives of the Committee are to prevent or reduce the risks of developing musculoskeletal and vision disorders and to promote the beneficial effects of educational computing through:

Serving as a network for the interchange between researchers, practitioners, school administrators, teachers, parents, health professionals, architects, designers, and manufacturers of furnishings, education supplies, software and equipment;Fostering professional initiatives for the International Ergonomics Association to promote ergonomics in schools throughout the world; Advocating ergonomics education for children, parents, teachers, librarians and health professionals;Developing materials for educational institutions as well as parents, teachers, librarians, and health professionals about ergonomics specifically adapted to children's postural and visual needs;Promoting ergonomics education for teachers and students in education information technology and design technology projects;Compiling, presenting, and making readily accessible, research related to ergonomics for children and educational environments;Identifying further research needs and encouraging international research collaboration;Encouraging collection and exchange of health and comfort data on incidence or prevalence of computer-related musculoskeletal and vision complaints among children;Advancing ergonomics as a major consideration in the design phase of learning environments; Defining strategies to inexpensively retrofit or redesign existing furniture used in computer environments at home, and in schools, libraries, children's museums and other educational environments;Advocating that a portion of major funding for information technology should be earmarked for ergonomics; andPromoting the development of ergonomic design guidelines (or codes of practice) for software, hardware, furniture, classrooms, computer rooms, school libraries and other educational environments.

For more information about the IEA visit http://www.iea.cc

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Good Human Factors in Management Style Increases Profits and ProductivityJuly 8, 2002

Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and the author of a book titled Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace. According to Goleman, a manager or management style that focuses on belittling employees, using harsh or offensive language, telling denigrating jokes, or making threats is not effective management. While this may look like common sense on paper, Goleman and others like the consulting firm Executive Insights Development Group see this type of management on a daily basis.

Executive Insights Development Group works with management personnel to better understand people and react appropriately. This skill is referred to as 'emotional intelligence' or 'emotional competency'. Companies who have employed this, or a similar service, say they were able to keep highly valued executives whose behavior had put their jobs at risk. Companies also report seeing bottom line benefits to improving the working environment. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, one study at a manufacturing plant showed that after supervisors received training in emotional competencies such as how to listen, the plant reduced lost-time accidents by half and formal employee grievances decreased to an average of three per year from 15 per year. Another study at a multinational consulting company showed partners who scored well on a test of their emotional competencies delivered $1.2 million more profit from their accounts than did other partners.

While this may look like a new art to management, ergonomics and human factors professionals have been using the same principles for years. In ergonomics, the term 'psychosocial' refers, in the workplace, to the atmosphere in the work environment. This would include the relationship between workers and management, problems between coworkers, and the organization of the company with regards to promotions and deadlines, etc.

Recently, research that links a stressful work environment to bottom line losses has had more recognition. Not only do psychosocial issues directly affect absence rates, but they may indirectly contribute to increased musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as well.

For instance, a study done at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that work absence can be related to psychosocial issues as well as physical risk factors. The study, published in the March 2001 edition of the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine examined 3470 workers in the Swedish Postal system.

The study found that certain physical, psychosocial, and organizational factors were important determinants of incidence of sickness, independent of each other. The background research also suggests that high job demands in combination with low control are associated with, for example, coronary heart disease and musculoskeletal disorders. Also, the occurrence of bullying at the workplace almost doubled the risk of being in the group with high incidence of sickness. Other factors associated with a high absence rate included seldom or never being able to discuss with the supervisor and working through illness.

Several other reports have also pointed to psychosocial issues as a risk factor for increased injury and illness. In December 2000, Ergoweb reported that according to CCH Inc., a human resource firm, one out of every five unscheduled absences is the result of worker stress, costing business about $600 per employee every year.

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A 2001 report from the National Academies of Science stated that a rapid work pace, monotonous work, low job satisfaction, little decision-making power, and high levels of job stress are associated with back disorders. Such psychosocial factors affect not only how workers view themselves in relation to the workplace, but also the physical, organizational, and social aspects of their jobs.

Also published in 2001, a Canadian study of over 8,200 workers related back problems to physical as well as psychosocial issues in the workplace. The study found that low social support at work and high job insecurity were independent predictors of restricted activity due to MSDs.

The bottom line is that better understanding of the work environment can save your bottom line.

Reference: Salt Lake Tribune July 8, 2002








A Seat with Sense May Have Numerous ApplicationsJanuary 25, 2001

Purdue University engineers have developed a chair that analyzes pressure patterns to determine a person’s sitting posture. The “sensing chair” may have numerous applications such as computer-security systems, automatically adjusting car seats and furniture improvements.

“The chair senses how the pressure is distributed in the seat and the backrest,” explained Hong Tan, an associate professor who is quoted on Purdue’s website. “We train the computer to recognize pressure patterns associated with different seating postures by showing the computer examples of such patterns.” It also creates “pressure maps” that distinguishes between different people.

When tested on 30 people, the chair had an overall accuracy of 96 percent in determining whether people were slouching, leaning in various positions, crossing their legs or sitting upright.

A doctoral student working with Tan, Lynne A. Slivovsky, will present a research paper on the chair at the 2000 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition.

Dr. Peter Budnick, President and CEO of ErgoWeb, expressed his concern when one report described the chair as, “Being able to determine an ergonomically correct posture.” He explained, “There is no correct posture, your body needs to move throughout the day. An appropriate posture must take into consideration the task involved, the individual, the individual’s preferences and the work tools being used.” However, he did recognize the chair may have numerous research applications.

Purdue suggested the sensing chair might be used to verify authorized personnel for computer-security purposes. They also think it could be used in cars to automatically adjust the driver’s seat according to who is behind the wheel.

For furniture, they see a value in evaluating a chair over an extended period of time. “Chair manufacturers … want to understand the long-term dynamics of seating,” explained Tan. Budnick notes that pressure mapping research in seating is nothing new. However, using continuous data sampling over long periods in controlled seating behavior studies may be an intriguing new twist.

The Business and Institutional Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) addresses working postures in its provisional release on ergonomics guideline for furniture. It states, “There is not uniquely correct working posture that would fit any user for an extended period of time and /or accommodate every personal working habit.”

Five typical working postures are outlined as:

Rearward tilt (positive seat pan angle)Upright (near horizontal seat pan)Forward tilt (negative seat pan angle)StandingAlternating between sitting and standing

It further explains, “All of these working postures are acceptable as long as the concept of fit is given proper consideration. ISO principles suggest that movement within and among these and other postures should be encouraged.”

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Ergonomics Resources for MusiciansDecember 26, 2001

Ergonomics, for me, is an obsession. It is more than work, career, hobby, and interest together. I warn any of you out there choosing to make ergonomics your life work that you will not even be able to enjoy a simple Christmas concert without thinking 'ergonomics'.

For example, Peter Budnick (President, CEO, and Ergonomist here at Ergoweb) and I went out with our spouses for an evening promising to be filled with holiday cheer good music. A group called 'Cherish the Ladies' was playing a delightful selection of traditional Celtic music and classical holiday songs. At an intermission Peter and I both made some comments about the quality of the show, but it was quickly apparent what we were really focused on:

Rachel: "Hey Peter, good show huh. Did you happen to notice the wrist position of the woman playing the drums? It was in constant and extreme flexion. I was thinking that incorporating a strap that would go over the back of the hand might help this."

Peter: "Yeah, I saw that. Did you notice the accordion player? She is holding the accordion off to the one side. I have already thought of a design for a stand that could be used so that she didn't have to counter balance the weight of the instrument."

Rachel: "Good idea, do you think there's much of a market for ergonomic accordion stands? I'm still not exactly sure what an accordion is!! But what about chairs. Did you notice that the one player had the chair switched in the middle of the piece and she put a towel down on it. I bet they don't travel with their own, we should design an adjustable sit/stand with a special travel case."

At this point, our spouses have rolled their eyes in disgust and are carrying on a completely different conversation. We managed to end the evening with thoughts for new drum sticks, cut out violins, watchless musicians (we'd hate the watch bands to further constrict the wrist--they'll just have to figure out some other way to tell time), and 1 accordion stand.

The fact is, this is a real issue. Many instruments require what we think of as awkward postures to play. Considering that it takes hours of practice in these positions, it is not surprising to learn that many musicians suffer from the same types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that are seen in workers on assembly lines. Sadly, these injuries have forced some very talented people to stop playing instruments.

The problem with awkward postures in musicians is that often the postures are a result of the instrument design. It is unlikely that a drastic change in the shape and design of the violin will come about as a direct result of awkward postures. In this case, it is often a matter of technique and training that may help keep musicians playing.

There are many books and journal articles that have been written about different techniques and postures that may be used to play instruments like the violin, guitar, piano, cello, and sax. Also available to musicians are products claiming to help avoid awkward postures such as specialized chairs or straps.

Here are a few resources for more information:

Musicians and Injuries

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http://www.engr.unl.edu/ee/eeshop/music.html

http://www.music-injury.com/html/musclesjoints.html

The Performing Arts Medicine Associationhttp://www2.ec.hscsyr.edu/pama/pubs.htm

Journal of Hand Therapy, Vol.5/No.2, April/June 1992. Special Issue -Musicians' Injuries

Fry, HJ. 1986. Overuse syndrome in musicians: prevention and management. Lancet 2: 728-731

Lederman RJ, Calabrese LH (1986). Oversue syndromes in instrumentalists. Med Probl Perform Art 1:7-11

Markison, RE (1990). Treatment of musical hands: Redesign of the interface. Hand Clinics, 6(3) 525-544

Quarrier, Nicholas. June 1997. "The Biomechanical Examination of a Musician with a Performance-Related Injury". Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America, Volume 6, Number 2, p. 145-158

A. Samama, (1981), "Muscle control for musicians", (Bohn, Scheltema and Holkema; Utrecht), p 1.

The musician's survival manual : a guide to preventing and treating injuries in instrumentalists / by Richard Norris ; edited by Deborah Torch. [S.l.] : International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, c1993. ISBN: 0918812747

In closing, I must say that despite our attention to posture and force, "Cherish the Ladies" is an extremely talented group who gave a very enjoyable performance, and I hope that the risk factors of their occupation will never force them to stop delighting audiences with their sound.



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Commentary: What is Ergonomics About?ReallyMay 30, 2001

Public awareness of the word "ergonomics" in the USA has increased dramatically over the past few years.

The Good News:

Public understanding of what "ergonomics" actually means is limited, and sometimes very confused.

The Bad News:

The US public's understanding of ergonomics has been seriously skewed by OSHA's recent attempts to regulate certain health and safety aspects in the workplace - namely "musculoskeletal disorders" (MSDs). True, when ergonomics principles are ignored in the workplace, MSDs are a potential outcome. However, that's only part of the story, and the workplace is only one environment in which ergonomics principles are, or should be, applied. Ergonomics professionals, who are also sometimes known as human factors engineers, know there are many other negative outcomes when ergonomics principles are neglected, whether it's in the workplace, a consumer product, a software interface, or a child's toy. In many applications, an MSD is the least concern, or of no concern at all.

Events such as the Bhopal, India, Union Carbide Corporation chemical disaster that killed at least 2,500 people (Casey, 1993); the Three Mile Island Nuclear plant disaster; countless automobile accidents; and the crash of a US Marine Corp MV-22 Osprey, to name just a few examples, all have their roots in ergonomics/human factors problems. Misuse or unintended use of consumer products, a common liability for US businesses, often occur when ergonomics/human factors principles are neglected. Poor productivity and quality performance that drives a business to failure can often be traced directly to neglecting ergonomics in the design of products and production systems.

So, what does ergonomics really mean? You can find hundreds of definitions in the scientific literature, but we at ErgoWeb prefer to use an application oriented, proactive statement to describe ergonomics, such as:

Ergonomics removes barriers to quality, productivity and safe human performance in human-machine systems by fitting products, equipment, tools, systems, tasks, jobs and environments to people.

A concise definition proposed by Dempsey et al. (2000) boils it down to its very fundamental nature:

Ergonomics is the design and engineering of human-machine systems for the purpose of enhancing human performance.

Notice that neither of these mention work, workplace, or imply in any way that ergonomics is restricted to occupational activities - or to health and safety, for that matter. Ergonomics specialties that focus exclusively on the workplace are usually referred to as "occupational ergonomics," or "industrial ergonomics."

Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary field, drawing from engineering, psychology, safety, health and medical sciences. Most qualified professionals spend years in college, usually in graduate studies, learning the principles and applications of ergonomics, and then spend years in the field gaining applied experience before they're able to obtain a recognized level of certification.

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Ergonomics is not a new concept. When humans first began to use tools to accomplish tasks they couldn't do with their bare hands, they were practicing ergonomics. When they refined those tools to function better, they were practicing ergonomics. The word, however, was not coined until 1857, when Wojciech Jastrzebowski, a Polish scholar, first derived it from the Greek words ergon (work) and nomos (principle or law).

In his original description of ergonomics, Jastrzebowski was careful to point out that he intended "work" to have a very broad meaning:

-- Wojciech Jastrzebowski, 1857

[T]his Science of Work, understood as Work in the comprehensive and integral sense, not merely its part that is physical labour or toil, but physical, aesthetic, rational, and moral work, that is Labour, Entertainment, Reasoning, and Dedication …

Furthermore, "work" has a much broader meaning in science and engineering, generally referring to any expenditure of energy.

So, when "the science of work" is used to describe the literal meaning of ergonomics, "work" should not be interpreted solely as an occupational or workplace issue.

All this being said, the workplace is a fertile environment for the application of ergonomics principles, and market demands push many of us to focus a large part of our professional attention toward occupational ergonomics. MSD reduction and management in the workplace is an important part of what we do, but so are improvements in design, production efficiencies, productivity, quality, and other bottom-line business principles. But, again, the workplace is only one part of the overall picture in our profession.

As the political push to regulate with respect to MSDs in US workplaces moves forward, I strongly recommend that the standard formerly known as the "Ergonomics Protection Standard" be renamed to reflect what it actually is: "Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorder Protection Standard." This is far more accurate, and will go a long way toward reducing the public's confusion about what ergonomics actually means. Furthermore, if American business and labor are less distracted by the politics of the workplace health and safety aspects of ergonomics, they will be more inclined to recognize and apply the broader principles of this important science for their common benefit, and for the benifit of those they serve.

References

Casey, Steven, (1993), , Aegean Publishing Company, Santa Barbara, California, USA.

Set Phasers on Stun and Other True Tales of Design, Technology, and Human Error

Dempsey, Patrick G., Wogalter, Michael S., and Hancock, Peter A, (2000),

, Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 1(1), pp. 3-10.

What's in a name? Using terms from definitions to examine the fundamental foundation of human factors and ergonomics science

Jastrzebowski, W., , originally published in Nature and Industry

(1857), reprinted by the Central Institute for Labour Protection, (1997), Warsaw, Poland.

An outline of ergonomics, or the science of work based upon the truths drawn from the science of nature

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Want More Customers? Try an Ergonomic Re-designMay 30, 2003

Think ergonomics is just about making tools and keyboards to reduce pain or injury? In some situations, improving ergonomics could mean pleasing the customer and that equals an improved bottom line.

Take Ford Motor Company’s design of the Mercury Monterrey Minivan that found a group of 15 mostly-male engineers dressed with Empathy Bellies – suits that mimic the feel of being nine-months pregnant – to determine where to position key features of the car. Or the Malibu Maxx in which General Motors says they shucked designing for the 50th percentile male in favor of designing the car to fit the pregnant woman, expected to be a viable market for the car’s highly adjustable interior once it is released in 2004.

Even the CEO of Palm Source, David Nagel, was quoted in a report as believing that poor product design could be keeping the sales of PDAs down.

ZDNet

“Most of the smart phones out there today include everything but the kitchen sink because people don't know what will sell, but as the market matures you will be able to create . . . devices that will be specialized to zero in on most of the functions a user wants," Nagel said at the conference of wireless industry professionals in May.

Overall, ergonomics centers on the user and in the world of sales, that means catering the design to fit, either physically or through usability, the customer. reports that the market for handheld devices is slowing, something Nagel said might be attributed to the poor design of the PDAs, stating that the devices lacked focus and failed to concentrate on usability or options that the users themselves wanted.

ZDNet

Will Ford or GM’s highly targeted designs fare any better? That remains to be seen. Both models go on sale in the 2004 model year.

Sources: ZDNet.uk.co; Reuters






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Commentary: Who’s Responsible for Occupational Ergonomics?August 23, 2002

Another common belief is that all engineers possess a ‘crystal ball’ through which they can foresee the future and therefore design accordingly with respect to ergonomics. In truth, engineers reach decisions much like the rest of the population – by drawing on past experience, subject knowledge, and the focus of the problem at hand.

[This article was contributed by Don Triggs, MS, CPE. Don is a Senior Consultant with Aon Ergonomic Services. He can be reached at [email protected].]

It’s everyone’s responsibility.

As an engineer and a consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with a variety of organizations and have observed some interesting mindsets with respect to implementing and managing occupational ergonomics.

First, most businesses feel that ergonomics is a safety function because of its relationship to injuries. Therefore, ergonomic implementation is typically the responsibility of the individual who manages the safety function, even though that person likely has many other responsibilities. Ergonomists understand that this approach is not very effective because ergonomics is a discipline that should permeate into every function of an organization. An excellent quote that embodies this concept is the definition of ergonomics by Rohmert:

– Rohmert, 1987

Ergonomics is related to the analysis of problems of people in their various working conditions within their real-life situations. Ergonomists try to analyze these relations, conditions and real-life situations with the aim of harmonizing demands and capacities, pretensions and actualities, longings and constraints.

For example, if an engineer isn’t aware of the outcomes of a design with respect to ergonomics, positive or negative, then how will he or she learn from the experience? If engineers haven’t been formally trained in ergonomics, then how can we expect them to incorporate ergonomics into their designs?

Many universities offer ergonomics and human factors classes as an elective, not as a requirement for an engineering degree. I frequently argue that the emphasis towards ergonomics should belong in the engineering department instead of the traditional location of safety, because of the problem solving behavior that is inherent in engineering.

All too often I’ve experienced the troubling misconception among supervisors and middle management that ergonomics and safety is not their responsibility. This idea manifests itself because supervisors are usually only held accountable for production and quality. Because of this focus on production and quality, I have observed discrepancies on the enforcement of safety issues versus ergonomic risk factors. Recently, I had a supervisor tell me that he couldn’t make the individual use a hoist that was provided. I answered “Why not? You make him wear safety glasses, don’t you?” When he responded, “Yes, but safety glasses are required,” I fired back “What’s the difference?” If safety glasses are required in a production area, usually the supervisor will enforce their use. However, the use of a mechanical assist such as a hoist is often left up to the discretion of the individual. A reduction in rate is the most common complaint with using a mechanical assist, even though the rate was

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established with use of the hoist.

The goal of implementing either eye protection or a mechanical assist is to prevent an identified risk. The potential risk for not wearing eye protection is an immediate trauma to the eye. The potential risk for not using a mechanical assist is cumulative trauma to the back. We tend to understand the risks associated with immediate trauma, hence the regulations that mandate machine guarding, lock out / tag out, personal protection equipment and many more. However, cumulative trauma risks are often overlooked or underestimated. I believe these inconsistencies in the enforcement of safety standards have contributed to the steady increase of cumulative trauma injuries versus the decline in immediate trauma injuries.

The frontline workers also have a responsibility towards ergonomics. An interesting psychological reaction that I’ve encountered, in relation to ergonomics, is a consistent resistance to change. Humans are creatures of habit and therefore will resist change regardless of the improvement. This phenomenon has forced many of my colleagues to invoke the “21-day rule” in order for workers to break old habits and begin to see the benefits of an improved process. I negotiate with employees using a new tool, mechanical assist or technique to give it a try for 3 weeks. After three weeks we will discuss and resolve any issues associated with the new process. Usually, changes are minor, and what typically happens is the employees become adept at the new process and realize the improvement. I often wonder about all the potential ergonomic improvements that have been attempted and removed due to worker intolerance to change. I see these attempts as I walk through facilities: a dust covered manipulator; an unused pallet lift residing in the “bone yard” -- a storage place where failed projects reside because an accountant somewhere says that the object still has value and shouldn’t be disposed of. It also saddens me to see ergonomic projects in bone yards because ergonomics is now seen as an expensive and risky endeavor by decision-makers in that organization.

Ultimately, the responsibility for ergonomics as well as safety resides with upper management. An organization will follow the directives of its leaders. If ergonomics is a priority at the highest level then it will permeate throughout all the levels of an organization.

Many consultants, myself included, have advocated the importance of implementing an ergonomics program. However, the most progressive organizations that I’ve worked with have not implemented ergonomic programs, but have instead accomplished success by integrating ergonomics into their existing processes (i.e., production, engineering, maintenance, quality, purchasing, human resources and R&D). These companies realized that ergonomics is not the responsibility of one person or department, but the duty of everyone in the organization.

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Ergonomics Support in the Bush Administration-It's not who you thinkApril 13, 2001

On March 29-30, 2001, Georgetown University held a Workplace Safety Summit. The University described this event as, "The first national event of its kind [with] aims to promote dialogue [on workplace safety] by bringing together high-level stakeholders and serving as a powerful catalyst for ongoing change."

While this in itself is great news, the real news came from comments made by keynote speaker Paul O'Neill who is currently the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. As former chairman and CEO of Alcoa, and president of International Paper Company before that, O'Neill knows a thing or two about workplace safety.

While at Alcoa he instituted programs and management that was able to significantly reduce the number of workplace injuries. In O'Niell's speech he talked about the OSHA ergonomics program standard which was effectively dismissed by the Bush administration. He also suggested that instead of the generic program standard that OSHA proposed, we should consider a single mandatory standard where a company would be required to reduce its workplace injuries to two cases per year for every one-hundred workers. The penalty for not meeting this standard would be very harsh: get shut down.

Some lobbyists thought that these remarks were not in tune with the views of the Bush administration. Michele Davis, Treasury spokeswoman, was quick to point out that O'Niell was speaking from corporate experience and is not involved in making labor policy stating that reports that reports that his views are in conflict with the administration are "erroneous".

The Washington Post quoted Patrick Clearly, vice president of human resources for National Association of Manufacturers as saying, "I think we would say Secretary O'Niell's heart is in the right place, but it's not a proposal we could support." The Post also reported AFL-CIO health and safety director Peg Seminario as saying O'Niell's approach would "drive underground the reporting of injuries".

While Secretary O'Niell is not involved in making labor policy today, he was one of the policymakers in 1971 involved in the creation of OSHA. And while he was no doubt made Treasury Secretary due to his experience with the financial aspect of corporations, the US Office of Management and Budget, and the US Veterans Administration, one of his first initiatives in the Treasury office was more about ergonomics than economics. Earlier this year O'Neill set up safety teams to address recording and minimization of injury rates within the Treasury. Other speakers at the Georgetown event included:

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Chair, Senate Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight Chad Holliday, Chairman and CEO, DuPont Peg Seminario, Director, Department of Occupation Safety & Heath, AFL-CIO Jay Greenspan, JMJ Associates Ron Hayes, The FIGHT Project Professor Emily Spieler, College of Law, West Virginia University Stephen Newell, Organization Resources Counselors, Inc. Mike Langlais, Investor Responsibility Research Center Julie Fox Gorte, The Calvert Group

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Ergonomics Back in CongressApril 25, 2001

On April 26 workplace safety activists, unions, and others will have another opportunity to speak to Congress about ergonomics when Sen. Arlen Specter, (R-PA), holds a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor to discuss ergonomics.

Specter, along with Sens. John Breaux,(D-LA), and Ted Stevens,(R-AK), last month introduced legislation that directs the Secretary of Labor to issue a final ergonomics rule no later than two years after the measure's passage.

The hearing scheduled next week will include testimony from Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, as well as experts from labor and business, including the AFL-CIO whose website counter contends that more than 175,000 workers will have sustained an ergonomic injury in the six weeks since the standard was repealed.

The BLS-based count increases by one every 18 seconds.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and New York Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) will most likely also be in attendance.

The NYCOSH website(http://www.nycosh.org) reports Board Chair William Henning remarked: "Congress could repeal the ergonomics standard, but that won't repeal an ergonomic hazard or prevent a single ergonomic injury. The toll of disabling ergonomicinjuries just keeps mounting up, increasing by nearly 5000 a day."

"The standard could prevent more than half of those injuries," Henning continued. "As far as I'm concerned, the Members of Congress who voted to repeal the standard should be charged with assault, because they said that it's okay for an employer to do nothing about an ergonomic hazard that is hurting workers."



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Europe Backs Campaign to Prevent Work-Related MSDsJune 29, 2000

“Turn your back on musculoskeletal disorders” (MSDs) is the slogan of this October's European Week for Safety and Health at Work.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work outlined to Members of European Parliament (MEPs) plans for this year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work. Taking place across Europe during October, the week aims to cut the incidence of back pain and other work-related MSPs by raising awareness of the steps that can be taken to prevent them.

Back pain and other MSDs are amongst the most prevalent occupational diseases affecting millions of workers in all employment sectors.

Speaking at an Agency exhibition in the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday 22nd June, UK MEP Stephen Hughes commented: "In spite of the alarmingly high and increasing number of cases, work-related MSDs are in large part preventable if employers and workers follow exisiting health and safety regulations and guidance on good practice. That's an important message for the European Week to get across."

The Agency also unveiled plans for more than 30 campaigning activities which will be co-funded by the Agency. "Abbatoir workers in France, bank employees in Luxembourg, farm workers in Great Britain and car factory workers in Portugal are just some of the groups being targeted," commented Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Agency's Director.

"In addition, a wide variety of different campaign techniques will be used during the week, ranging from advertising on buses, through the production of videos and training material for different sectors, to workshops to discuss practical solutions."

The Agency has also launched a dedicated web site for the week in all 11 community languages at http://osha.eu.int/ew2000.

Speaking in Brussels this week, Anna Diamantopoulou European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs commented, "MSDs are a very serious problem for Europe's 150 million workers. But it is not all bad news. Across Europe, there are numerous examples of organizations and companies, big and small, that have found ways to reduce the risk of their workers developing MSDs. A key aim of this year's European Week for Safety and Health at Work is to help promote practical preventive solutions to the problem of MSDs in workplaces across Europe."

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, based in Bilbao, Spain, was set up by the European Union to help meet Europe's information needs in the field of occupational safety and health.

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Europe Backs Campaign to Prevent Work-Related MSDs

“Turn your back on musculoskeletal disorders” (MSDs) is the slogan of this October's European Week for Safety and

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work outlined to Members of European Parliament (MEPs) plans for this year's


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Chao Responds to Steady Workplace Injury Rates

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European Leaders Discuss Prevention of MSDsDecember 13, 2000

The French Presidency/European Agency Colloquium on European Perspectives on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) was recently held in Bilbao, Spain. The colloquium celebrated the end of European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2000. It wrapped up the European Week Campaign, which saw over 5,000 activities organized throughout the European Union and beyond in order to combat work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

MSDs are fast becoming the greatest health and safety challenge for Europe. They affect over 40 million European workers (i.e. over 30% of the workforce). Estimates in several Member States indicate that the Overall costs of work-related MSDs could be between 0.5% and 2% of Gross National Product, which is a significant burden on the EU economy.

The European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Mrs. AnnaDiamantopoulou, showed her full support for the process of debate and reflection that this colloquium encouraged.

"We need to increase our understanding of how we can better stimulate and encourage a preventive culture in Europe's workplaces. We need to know what more we can do to support member states and companies to develop more effective preventive measures against MSDs; and what more could be done at the European level to tackle the MSD problem,” she explained.

Attended by over 200 experts from more than 20 countries across Europe, the European Colloquium saw a lively debate between many sectors of work and society. Many ideas were discussed and debated with experts from the European institutions, national governments, European social partners, research institutions and member state national safety and health organizations.

Two main approaches were followed in the debate with the emphasis on examining the legislative approach as well as developing non-legislative measures, which could be applied under current legislation in order to improve the present situation.

Legislative measures

Most felt the existing legislation should be effectively implemented first before contemplating new legislative initiatives. However, they did recognize the need to explore simplification of existing legislation. In addition, some participants raised the possibility of extending existing EU legislation such as manual handling and VDU directives to better cover MSD risks.

The European Commission reported its legislative initiative to combat "Physical Agents" which would have some effect on certain types of vibration-related MSDs. The forthcoming European Community Safety and Health Strategy was clearly identified as a target of those suggesting legislative initiatives.

Non-Legislative measures

The legislative debate was complemented by a comprehensive discussion on non-legislative actions which could be taken in order to better enforce or implement existing legislation. Below are listed the main suggestions discussed during the

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colloquium:

The pursuance of a multidisciplinary approach to MSD risks involving medical experts, ergonomists and health and safety experts.Effective monitoring and risk evaluation, particularly of those most at risk to MSDs.Better methods of work organization to avoid MSD risks.Better worker involvement to identify and avoid MSD risks.Effective social dialogue in order to keep such safety and health risks at the top of the agenda at all levels.Better training and education in the workplace.Special attention in the research field to MSD issues, with particular attention to the effects of stress and long working hours on MSD incidence rates.Exchange of information between all those involved at the European andinternational level in terms of research, good practice, developments in legislation (such as those in the U.S.), training and education. The establishment of development and improvement targets (or even"benchmarking" targets) at the Member State level. Countries such as the UK, Denmark, The Netherlands and Sweden were mentioned as having some firstexperiences in this area.Improvements in workplace design and the provision of a sufficient number of trained MSD ergonomistsEvaluation of the impact of contractor / sub-contractor relationships on MSD outcomes.Better attention to the development, collection and dissemination of workplace good practice examples. The role of the European Agency in collecting and disseminating good practice within the framework of European Week was singled out for praise in this area.Effective public health surveillance as a necessary compliment to workplace health monitoring.The need for effective rehabilitation in order to get MSD sufferers back to work and any necessary modifications in work organization in order to cater for rehabilitated workers.

The Director of the European Agency, Mr. Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said he was pleased with the outcome of the European Colloquium. "The colloquium clarified some of the most important remaining challenges for those involved at both the national and European level in their fight against work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The Agency will be ready to play its role in order to support this process and will continue to collect and share good practice examples which can offer help to some of those at risk to MSDs."



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Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Affects 40 Million European WorkersNovember 20, 2000

The European Week for Safety and Health at Work Conference held in Bilboa, Spain, concluded work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are becoming the greatest health and safety challenge for Europe. Studies indicate that 40 – 50% of all work-related illnesses are related to WMSDs. Estimates in several Member States indicate that the overall cost is approximately 0.5%- 2.0% of Gross National Product.

According to a recent European survey, 30% or 44 million European workers complain of back pain, 17% complain of muscular pain in the arms and legs and 45% reported working in painful or tiring positions.

The objectives of the European Week was to promote awareness about MSDs and encourage exchange of experience on practical preventative solutions.

The Director of the European agency, Mr. Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, said he hoped, “Companies, trade unions and professionals across Europe would consult and put into practice some of the Good Practice examples collected by the agency and others at the Member State level. If companies were able to exploit these and other good practice examples in the workplace, they might also find that the results would not only alleviate the burden of work-related MSDs but they may also result in cost-efficiency savings.”

On November 27, 2000, the French Presidency of the European Union and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will join forces to organize the closing colloquium of European Week 2000. The gathering will focus on future steps to addressing and controlling WMSDs.



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President Bush Responds to ASSE Questions on Safety and HealthJanuary 31, 2001

In its recent congratulatory letter to President George W. Bush, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offered its expertise and assistance on future safety, health and environmental issues to the President, and also noted his pre-election response to an ASSE inquiry “welcoming an ongoing dialogue on tangible ways to improve occupational safety and health.”

In Bush’s written response (submitted to ASSE before the November 7th election) to a series of questions concerning occupational safety and health, he responded first by stating, “promoting workplace safety is a common goal that unites both employers and employees.”

The response went on to state, “OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) should be a partner with U.S. companies – and not an adversary. While the enforcement of health and safety regulations must remain a tool of OSHA, as President, I will place a renewed focus on education, consultation, training and outreach – particularly for America’s small businesses – to be proactive and help prevent workplace accidents from occurring. OSHA’s worksite inspections should continue; however, OSHA should move away from citing small businesses for unimportant paperwork violations and instead focus on serious violations that cause harm to workers.”

He also stated, “...I favor a limited, but active federal government – one that empowers states, cities and citizens to make decisions; ensures results through accountability; and promotes innovation through competition. My ‘getting results from government’ initiative will reform and modernize government on the basis of three key objectives: To make government 1) citizen-centered, not bureaucracy-centered; 2) results-oriented, not process-oriented; and 3) market-based, actively promoting – not stifling, innovation and competition. In my administration I want federal agencies – including OSHA – to see American citizens and businesses as partners, not resent them as rivals.”

In ASSE’s congratulatory letter, ASSE’s President Samuel J. Gualardo, CSP, stated there is great opportunity for significant benefit if partnership can be achieved. The results will be innovative methods to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of occupational safety and health and environmental management. “Once more we congratulate you and look forward to working with you on future safety, health and environmental issues,” Gualardo wrote.



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Ergonomics a Priority for Safety and Health Professionals in 2002January 18, 2002

Without a national standard, or any word from OSHA on what shape ergonomics regulations will take, is ergonomics still on the mind of professionals? According to a survey done by Business News Publishing and reported in the January 2002 edition of Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, ergonomics still ranks high on the list of priorities for 2002 among health and safety professionals.

According to the survey, for small facilities (1-100 employees), ergonomics was third in a list of top priorities for the coming year. This is despite the fact that over 70% of small facilities feel that the economy has hurt safety and health efforts. Among emerging issues that will be of personal interest in the next three years, ergonomics topped the list with 55%. Other issues included behavioral safety, stress effects, and internet technologies.

Among mid-size facilities (101-500 employees), ergonomics came second on a list of top priorities for the upcoming year behind supervisor safety training. In this group, ergonomics also tops the list of emerging issues that will be of personal interest in the next three years at 62%.

Large facilities (more than 1,000 employees) reported ergonomics at the top of the priority list. 52% topped the list of emerging issues that will be of personal interest in the next three years with ergonomics.

Among survey respondents who identified themselves as safety professionals, 58% put ergonomics on the top of the list of emerging issues that will be of personal interest in the next three years. This group did not list ergonomics among three top priorities for the next year. Respondents who identified themselves as industrial hygienists, however, feel that ergonomics should be the top priority, and 54% listed ergonomics as an emerging issue that will be of personal interest in the next three years.

Some respondents were identified as neither industrial hygienists nor safety professionals, but still listed occupational health and safety as their full time job. Among this group ergonomics ranked second on a list of top priorities and 58% felt it was the top emerging issue that will be of personal interest in the next three years. Those who listed occupational health and safety as only a part time job found ergonomics to be third on the list of top priorities and 53% listed ergonomics as an emerging issue that will be of personal interest in the next three years.

The survey also demonstrates that health and safety professionals are broadening their understanding of ergonomics to include more than lifting boxes. 46% of respondents said that an increased workload on employees is a significant concern.

This survey reflects the opinions only of those working mainly as safety professionals and industrial hygienists. Full time ergonomists were not part of the survey population. Other groups concerned with ergonomics but not accounted for in this survey include product designers, engineers, psychologists, and medical professionals.

How does ergonomics play into your 2002 cards. Let us know by writing [email protected]

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Senate Committee Votes for Ergonomics RegulationsJune 19, 2002

In a 11-10 vote along party lines, The Democrat-controlled Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved legislation Wednesday requiring the Labor Department (DOL) to create regulations to reduce workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The bill requires the DOL to create within two years regulations covering all industries, making clear what employers are required to do and when.

Committee Chairman Edward M. Kennedy, (D-MA) stated, "The administration's plan to address this health crisis in the workplace replays failed strategies from the past. They rely on toothless voluntary guidelines that most corporations will simply ignore. These guidelines will be developed piecemeal, industry by industry, rather than covering workers at risk in all industries."

Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY), one of the most vocal adversaries of Clinton's repealed ergonomics regulations, said he planned to block a vote on the legislation when it reaches the Senate floor.

Passing the bill will be less likely in the Republican-controlled House. Democrats plan to attach the bill to appropriations legislation instead of offering it for consideration as a stand-alone measure on the Senate floor.






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