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.
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.
August 2, 2011

Evidence: Investing in Adjustable Workstations Produces Healthy ROI

This article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, summarizes an internal corporate study of 6200 financial services call center staff found that over a three-year period employees in non-adjustable workstations had 5-times more injuries and 20 times more Worker Compensation injury costs, as compared to employees in user-adjustable workstations. Furthermore, the non-adjustable workstations had higher costs associated with routine moves and making ergonomic adjustments.