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January 9, 2013
January 9, 2013

Participatory Ergonomics: A Path to Sustainable Ergonomics

Following up on his popular Participatory Ergonomics webinar, Peter Budnick further discusses the importance of Respect for People in Continuous Improvement systems like Lean, arguing that it's impossible to achieve Operational Excellence without Ergonomics, and that Ergonomists can play a valuable leadership and participation role in such initiatives. He illustrates the importance of Respect for People with examples from his work with Ergonomists Without Borders, and also shares his slides and a recording of the webinar for interested readers.
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December 31, 2012
December 31, 2012

UK Ergonomists Mark 20th Anniversary of DSE and ‘Six Pack’ Regulations

Twenty years ago on 1 January 1993, the UK implemented six wide ranging health & safety regulations that included provisions for ergonomics. Dubbed the ‘Six Pack', the 1993 regulations made clearer duties in relation to some activities (e.g. computer work, manual handling) and gave more detail and guidance to help employers protect the health & safety of their staff. "As a result, both employers and employees know much more about safer working practices and what has to be done in the workplace by both parties to achieve this. More could still be done to combat stress and improve overall employee wellbeing. And there will always be some difficult situations which will require compromise solutions," says Dave O'Neill, Chief Executive of the IEHF.
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December 20, 2012
December 20, 2012

Ergonomics Inspired Reference and Training Manual Aims to Cut Gun Fatalities

In this reprint from The Ergonomics Report, the late Hal Hendrick is interviewed by journalist Jennifer Anderson regarding a forthcoming book he had co-authored, "Human Factors Issues in Handgun Safety and Forensics." As the gun violence debate erupts in the USA following the senseless and tragic deaths of 20 innocent children and 6 adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, we reflect on the role that Ergonomics and Human Factors can -- and should -- play in the prevention of unnecessary gun related deaths, injuries, as well as any regulations that may follow.
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December 14, 2012
December 14, 2012

Ergonomics an Afterthought for Lounge Chair Classics?

The icons look as if they were designed today, but some are over 80 years old. And all suit open-plan living, a concept of architectural design that remains as popular today as when Frank Lloyd Wright et al introduced it in the 1920s. This article was originally published in The Ergonomics Report, and contains an update with pictures of Frank Lloyd Wright chairs taken at Taliesin West, where Wright spent his winters later in life.
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December 3, 2012
December 3, 2012

Effects of Anti-Fatigue Mats on Discomfort and Weight-Shifting

University of Michigan based researchers Neal Wiggermann and W. Monroe Keyserling conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of "anti-fatigue" mating on the perceived discomfort and weight shifting during prolonged standing. Their results are of great interest to ergonomists and employers seeking to reduce discomfort related to long duration standing. This article reviews the state-of-the-art understanding of the relationship between floor surface and standing discomfort and concludes with applicable recommendations for selecting anti-fatigue mats.
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November 30, 2012
November 30, 2012

Body Mass Index Related to Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Job Stress (Reprint)

In this reprint from The Ergonomics Report, Gene Kay and Peter Budnick review a research article summarizing the findings of a team of researchers from India that performed a study looking at various associations between body mass index BMI, musculoskeletal discomfort, and occupational stress among computer workers. Their results add to the growing understanding that being overweight can have a significant effect on musculoskeletal discomfort and occupational stress measures.
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November 27, 2012
November 27, 2012

A Brief, Incomplete, Possibly Inaccurate History of Ergonomics … or Human Factors

In a broad sense, ergonomics is as old as humankind, or at least some point long ago in human history. Many trace its origins to that day when the first human realized that a sharp rock or a pointy stick was useful as a tool. Whoever it was, whenever it was, found a way to improve upon human capabilities by creating a tool. Peter Budnick traces those humble beginnings forward, highlighting key developments through history that have lead to what we recognize today as Ergonomics ... or Human Factors ... or whatever it is we do ... or whatever it is we call it ...
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November 14, 2012
November 14, 2012

Revisiting the Roots of Ergonomics

In 1857 -- over 150 years ago -- a Polish scholar named Wojciech Jastrzebowski coined the word "ergonomics". Have we made any progress since? In this fun and interesting reprint from the September 2002 edition of the Ergonomics Report, we ask, "You be the judge".
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