Ergonomics Event Draws Top Names

A host of well-known ergonomics experts are heading to Las Vegas next month to help attendees prosper when the economy improves.

• By Jerry Laws
• Oct 02, 2009

The 15th Annual National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition will take place Nov. 17-20 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, with its focus directed at helping businesses survive the downturn and prosper as the economy improves. Five educational tracks are featured (Program Management, Office Ergonomics, Industrial Ergonomics & Material Handling, Healthcare & Lab Ergonomics, and Design for the Aging & Diverse Workforce).

Organizers say the event is the largest U.S. ergonomics event of the year and is the best opportunity to learn how ergonomics will:

• protect a scaled-back, aging workforce
• improve safety, efficiency, morale, and productivity
• reduce absenteeism and worker’s comp costs, and
• boost profitability.

"The speaker faculty knows that it’s all hands on deck at every workplace in the nation. Th ose coping with scaled-back workforces must ensure that their most valuable resource is able to work safely and at peak capacity. The faculty is prepared to share their secrets to ergonomics success for any budget, in any type of workplace," said Walter Charnizon, president of Continental Exhibitions, Inc., the event’s owners/producers.

Keynotes and Educational Program

Keynote speakers are Frank Maguire, a founder and former senior vice president of FedEx (10:15-11:15 a.m. Nov. 18); (9:45-10:45 a.m. Nov. 19); Dr. Brent Pawlecki, corporate medical director for Pitney Bowes, who will discuss its ergonomics and wellness programs; and David Cochran, Ph.D., PE, CPE, professor in the Industrial and Management Systems Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will deliver the 5th Annual State of the Industry Address (9:45- 10:45 a.m. Nov. 20).

This event features a who’s who of ergonomics leaders, several of whom have held leadership positions at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The long list of speakers includes these names:

• Mark Benden, CPE, Ph.D., professor of Ergonomics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center
• David Brodie, MS, CPE, director of Ergonomics Services for Atlas Ergonomics, vice chairperson for the Ergonomics Branch of Industrial Hygiene Specialty Group, a practice specialty of the ASSE, and a BCPE director
• Peter Budnick, Ph.D., BS, MSE, CPE, president and CEO of Ergoweb, Inc.
• Jerome Congleton, Ph.D., PE, CPE, professor in the Safety & Engineering Program of Texas A&M University
• Woody Dwyer, MS, CPE, CIE, senior ergonomics specialist for Travelers and a member of its Human Factors and Ergonomics unit
• Arun Garg, CPE, Ph.D., professor, chair of the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Department, and director of the Center for Ergonomics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Camille Major, BSIE, MSIE, MBA, ergonomics specialist with Raytheon Company

Attendees who hold a certification with ABIH and BCSP will qualify for certification maintenance, and BCPE testing will take place Nov. 16 at Caesars Palace. Registering by Oct. 11 secures a savings of up to $250, according to Continental. The conference program and other information are available at www.ErgoExpo.com.

Workshops and Expo

Exhibitors will be demonstrating ergonomic seating, computer accessories, material handling equipment, lighting, software, consulting services, training, lifts, and office productivity solutions. The expo will be open from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and also 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 (the latter session is a networking reception); 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and also 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 (the afternoon portion is another networking reception); and 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Nov. 20. Full-day and half-day workshops are scheduled for Nov. 17.

This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.