http://www.ergoweb.com/news/index.cfm Ergoweb is the place for all ergonomic-related news. Sat, 26 May 2012 01:20:00 Sat, 26 May 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/images/ergowebvertical.gif http://www.ergoweb.com/news/index.cfm 166 125 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2634 Republished from The Ergonomics Report, this article reviews a study that identifies psychosocial risk factors that predict worker absenteeism and presenteeism. Psychosocial risk factors of work demands, social climate, and employee commitment to the organization were related to sickness absence in a prospective study of 2095 Swedish employees. The 3.5 year investigation found that when companies improved these risk factors, sickness absence was reduced. Wed, 16 May 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2632 Drawing on 40 years of his own experience -- and noting that last year was OSHA's 40th anniversary -- well-known ergonomist Dan MacLeod presents his vision for OSHA reform, particularly when it comes to ergonomics. "During this time, OSHA generated striking improvements in working conditions, but has to my mind been simultaneously plagued by its approach to enforcement ... My experience gives me a sense of optimism that there are better ways to regulate industry. The premise of ergonomics is that with good design we can simultaneously improve human well being and increase overall efficiency. I suspect this principle applies to Federal regulations and agencies as much as it does to powered hand tools and production lines." Thu, 10 May 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2628 This 10 year old article, republished with permission from ErgoWeb's subscription-based The Ergonomics Report, remains highly relavent today, and the title says it well: Profits, Not Compliance, Will Drive Ergonomics. Wed, 02 May 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2627 Pass the word -- submissions for the 2012 Dieter W. Jahns Student Practitioner Award are due by May 31, 2012. Submissions for this prestigious award can be made individually or as a group. The award is open, world wide, to students (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Ergonomics and Ergonomics-related programs. Students who have completed their graduate degrees in the past year are also eligible. Wed, 02 May 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2625 Contributor Philip Jacobs finds a series of �Overexertion and strenuous and repetitive movements or loads� codes included in the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9), but notes that there is no use of the word 'ergonomics' (or the 'E' word, as he jokingly calls it in this short article) anywhere in the classification system. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2624 ErgoAdvocate's Gene Kay will present a free seminar in Cupertino, CA, that will explore Metabolic Syndrome and the twin epidemics of obesity and inactivity. Attendees will learn the basic causes and physiology of sitting disease, and then will join the instructor in exploring a number of approaches that can be used to mitigate the potential impact of this cluster of diseases. The goal is to create a more active work life for the office worker. This may include a combination of work practice, workstation, and social changes. The session will be held this Friday, April 27, 2012. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2622 This article, reprinted from The Ergonomics Report, summarizes a research article that showed that marked shoulder pain occurred three times more frequently among hotel room cleaners when psychosocial risk factors were present according to a University of California investigation. Sometimes, risk factors alone are not the source of perceived pain or injury. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2619 On March 21, 2012, Ergoweb held a webinar titled "Improving Outcomes -- Office Ergonomics Success Stories." Attendees asked many questions -- far too many to answer during the webinar -- so we've compiled and answered the questions in this article, including laptops vs. desktops, how to convince management to invest in ergonomics, budgeting, liability, costs, ROI, sit-stand, chairs and more. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2618 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. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:20:00 http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=2615 The Product Design Technical Group (PDTG) of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society welcomes submissions for its 11th Annual Stanley H. Caplan User-Centered Product Design Award. The award emphasizes innovative and user-centered approaches to HF/E and industrial design. The topic for this year�s prize is the human factors/ergonomics science behind product design ... Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:20:00