Ergonomics


2018 SHRM Conference Includes Sessions on Rx Overuse, Workplace Depression

The June 17-20 conference will include more than 230 concurrent sessions on topics such as prescription drug overuse, workplace depression, bullying and harassment, workplace violence, health care reform, financial wellness for young workers, and more.

UK Company Fined for Vibration Exposures

"No one's health should be made worse by the work they do. In this case, if Tai Calon had understood why health surveillance was necessary, it would have ensured that it had the right systems in place to monitor its workers' health," said HSE Inspector Paul Newton.

Moving From Ergonomic Objections to Objectives

I recommend four ergonomic objectives that can apply to any company member who walks, lifts, pushes, uses tools, pulls, climbs or just sits or stands in place.

NIOSH Research Can Help Construction Workers Avoid Injury

Construction workers are at high risk for developing MSDs because they are frequently doing manual lifting and material handling tasks, using repetitive motions, and may be exposed to vibrations and inconsistent working conditions.

HSE: Don't Use Off-the-Shelf Ergonomics Training

"If you do need staff training, and there are many residual risks where this is the case, then this needs to be customized and professionally delivered. Any such training should be based on observations of current working practices and should be informed by the views and experience of the workforce," HSE Health and Work Portfolio Manager Geoff Cox said.

California's Housekeepers Ergonomics Standard Takes Effect July 1

The regulation requires employers in the hotel and lodging industry to implement and maintain an effective Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program so employees won't be hurt from tasks such as lifting mattresses, pulling linens, pushing heavy carts, and slipping, tripping, or falling while cleaning bathrooms.

ASTM Exoskeletons Standards Group Gets to Work

The new committee on exoskeletons and exosuits, F48, held its first meeting this month and decided what the subcommittees and task groups will focus on. The need for technical standards has grown as use of exoskeletons grows in manufacturing, military, health care, and other applications.

SAIF Produces Kitchen Safety Videos

New data from SAIF shows restaurant workers had an injury frequency twice as high as that of the services industry as a whole, and last year, the company received more than 2,700 injury claims from the restaurant industry.



Proper technique is a skill rarely mastered or used by people in a dynamic work environment.

Keep Lifts Between the Knees and Shoulders

When lifting an object to above shoulder height, the core and stabilizer muscles become less efficient, so we change our body mechanics and the risk of shoulder injury increases dramatically.

NIOSH Taking Comments on Research Agenda for Service Industries

The draft says suggested areas on which to focus research include same-level falls for food service workers; fatal injuries among installation, maintenance, and repair occupations; and motor vehicle injuries, falls, and struck by or against injuries among waste collection workers.

Minnesota OSHA FY2017 Safety Grants Topped $1M

The agency's latest newsletter says MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation's Safety Grants during the fiscal year totaled $1,021,436 to 155 applicants.

"But we cannot ignore those three million workers," OSHA

Entries Due Soon in MSD Reduction Contest

HSE and its partners want businesses to nominate design changes that have made a real impact -- changes that have been implemented in Great Britain during the 2017 calendar year and have demonstrably reduced MSD risks for workers.

SAIF's Farm Safety Seminars Under Way

The series began Oct. 31 and will continue into March 2018, visiting 16 Oregon cities in that period.

20 Nonprofits Get MIOSHA Grants

"We're pleased to award these grants to employer groups, labor organizations, and other non-profits that have demonstrated innovation and diversity in their training programs," MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said. "We appreciate the collaborative effort of these grantees and their mutual commitment toward preventing workplace injuries and illnesses."

This Ford photo shows employees participating in the Sept. 29, 2017, Wellbeing + Wanderlust @Ford event in Dearborn, Mich. (Ford photo)

Ford Adopts Holistic Approach to Employees' Well-Being

The company on Sept. 27 announced the new approach, and it held a Wellbeing + Wanderlust @Ford event on Sept. 29 in Dearborn that the company said was intended to jump-start employees' interest in their overall health.

Ambulance bills in general can often top $600 or $800 or more, and most ambulance services tack on an "emergency response charge" that tops $300 on average.

NIOSH Posts Fact Sheet on Preventing EMS Workers' Injuries

More than 22,500 EMS workers visited emergency departments each year for work-related injuries, it says, with sprains and strains accounting for the most frequently cited injuries. Most were injured while responding to a 911 call.

Standing all day isn

Workplace Wellness: The Role of Ergonomics and Movement

By incorporating movement into the work day, employees can also reduce their risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

A good improvement creates a win-win situation: better for the employee and better for production.

Engaging Our Mature Workers for Better Sustainability, Safety, and Efficiency

Prioritization of tasks and planning the work are the keys to keeping the momentum of the team.

"NLE Calc is a quick and simple way for a worker to assess their risk for injury before they manually lift an object," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard.

NIOSH Releases Lifting Equation Mobile App

"NLE Calc is a quick and simple way for a worker to assess their risk for injury before they manually lift an object," said NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard. "The information workers used to find in a manual is now in their back pocket and can help prevent one of the most common, and costly, work-related injuries."

Paper Cites Beneficial Effects of Playing Video Games

The authors of the paper published in the journal Human Factors -- human factors/ergonomics researchers -- evaluated whether casual video game play is an effective way to combat workplace stress during breaks.

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