Peter Budnick, PhD, CPE, Ergoweb's Co-Founder and CEO, and Gene Kay, MS, CEA, President, ErgoAdvocate LLC (a division of Ergoweb), will speak at several conferences over the next week. Peter will participate in Globalization of Ergonomics, a panel session taking place at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. Gene will speak at the 2013 Midwest Regional Occupational Health Conference and participate in a panel discussion at the Minnesota State Agency – Safety & Loss Control Conference.
Peter will participate in the Globalization of Ergonomics panel session at the 2013 International Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), where he will join Andy Imada, Past-President of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and President-Elect of HFES, and Nancy Larson, Corporate Ergonomist, 3M Corporation. This session was organized by Professor Thomas J. Smith, PhD, CHFP, University of Minnesota, and also includes contributions from Professor Karen Jacobs, PhD, CPE, Boston University. Panel members will review key events influencing the development and growth of ergonomics and human factors as a global science and profession and will share personal experiences and knowledge drawn from their own international work and studies. The session will take place Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 3:30 – 5:00 PM, in Sapphire 410, Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, San Diego, California, USA.
At the 2013 Midwest Regional Occupational Health Conference, Gene Kay will speak about office ergonomics issues, including eye strain, the most common complaint among computer users, and back pain, one of the most significant reasons for lost time at work. Much misinformation persists regarding positioning for computer users. Examples include the strong belief that the monitor must be placed at eye-level, and in the case of neck pain, the monitor needs to go even higher. Or the belief that the 90-90-90 upright seated posture is the one correct way to sit. In many cases clear scientific evidence supports changing this rigid outdated thinking. See how there are better ways of working. Learn about the sweet-spot for visual work, and learn how to reduce spinal loading and compression while seated. The session will take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at the Chula Vista Resort and Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Gene will also be on hand in the exhibit hall to demonstrate ErgoAdvocate, an effective enterprise level office ergonomics management system that includes web-based training and assessment, self-help issue resolution, expert assisted issue escalation protocols, and sophisticated yet easy to administer ergonomics process management and documentation features.
Gene will also join a panel discussion covering Emerging Ergonomics Trends at the Minnesota State Agency – Safety & Loss Control Conference, held at Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie, MN. During the Wednesday, October 2, 2013 session, he and other panelists will cover health related issues and negative effects of sitting at a desk all day; the use of exercise balls instead of chairs in the office; effects of obesity and age on the workforce, and steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of injuries in such populations; concerns and recommendations regarding the use of multiple monitors; and, concerns and recommendations on the use of tablet computers and touch screen devices in the workplace.
We look forward to seeing you there if you're able to attend either of these conferences.