Seven epidemiological studies demonstrated a significant association between forklift operation and low back pain when Waters et al. statistically combined study findings to calculate a meta-odds ratio of 2.13. Surprisingly, no studies were found that examined neck or upper extremity disorders relative to forklift operators.

Employers and many legislators on both sides of the 49th Parallel are heavily armed against ergonomics programs, regarding them as regulation by stealth. So why wasn't the Province of Ontario's "Pains and Sprains" campaign used as target practice when it was introduced in January? The Ergonomics Report goes 'inside' the issue to find out.

Tim Villnave takes a closer look at two timely topics from current ergonomic research

Ian Noy to replace Tom Leamon at Liberty Mutual; Cost of Absenteeism and Presenteeism Underestimated; Cell Phones Given Clean Bill of Health; Study Finds Link Between Work Stress and Heart Disease-Diabetes Syndrome

Working extended or overtime hours was strongly associated with increased incidence of work related injury/illness according to a Dembe et al. analysis of 13 years of data collected by a national survey.

A United States Senate inquiry opened on January 23 into two accidents in West Virginia in the first three weeks of January that killed 14 coal miners.

In December a court again decided human error was the cause of a workplace accident and closed the book. The decision punished a youth by denying his right to worker's compensation. It's an outcome that will surprise few people in the human factors and ergonomics profession.

GOP lawmakers argue that it would burden employers unnecessarily, and lead many to close shop or move out of state