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The Ergonomics Workshop
by John LaCourse
The science of ergonomics simply means modifying the
workplace, the tools, and the process to fit the capabilities of humans at work.
To aid industry and the commercial sector in reducing ergonomic hazards, such as
repetitive trauma disease, a coalition of several groups on campus have
sponsored an annual workshop on ergonomics. The coalition consists of the UNH
Human Factors Research and Development Center, the Industrial Associates Program
(IAP) of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and
the UNH Partnership for Technology and Management Training. The workshop has
featured many of our esteemed ECE colleagues…. Joe Murdoch – Lighting, Don
Melvin-Electrical Hazards, Allen Drake-Noise and Vibration, K. Sivaprasad and
Kent Chamberlin-EMF hazards, and of course John LaCourse-ergonomics, in general.
The 1997 conference, entitled "Ergonomics: Meeting Workplace Needs", focused
on identifying ergonomic risk factors and providing control strategies. In all,
there were twelve presenters in the 1997 workshop. Session titles, session
descriptions, and presenters’ biography are described below.
The Impact of OSHA’s Rules & Regulations on Workplace Ergonomics
This session addressed the implications of OSHA’s rules and
regulations on ergonomics in the workplace. Speaker: David McBee
is a Certified Environmental Trainer, a registered National Environmental
Training Association Instructor, and a Certified OSHA Training Institute
instructor.
Establishing an Ergonomic Program
This session provided the necessary tools and policies, in a
road map style, to establish and implement an ergonomic program and/or oversight
committee. Speaker: John R. LaCourse, Ph.D., CPE, C.E.E.S., is a
certified Professional Ergonomist and a Professor of Electrical Engineering at
UNH. He is also the Coordinator of the Ergonomics Program at Harvard Pilgrim
Health Care, LaCourse specializes in engineering controls for cumulative trauma
disorders (CTDs) and biomedical engineering.
Identifying Risk Factors
In this session the risk factors that may lead to
ergonomic-related injuries were discussed and ranked in order of significance.
Attendees learned about the physical risk factors (i.e., force, posture, etc.)
as well as the psychosocial, psychobiological, and psychophysical risk factors
including workstyle. Speaker: John LaCourse, Ph.D.
Effective Ergonomic Evaluations
The topics in this session centered on performing sound and
defensible ergonomic evaluations of jobs, work methods, and workstations. This
requires a thorough knowledge of: people’s capacity to do work; the risk factors
for work-related disease; and a sense of what a practical solution might be. The
evaluation process presented was based on literature, OSHA and NIOSH guidelines,
and ANSI standards. Time was spent evaluating videos of job sites and tasks.
Speaker: John LaCourse, Ph.D.
Ergonomics of Manual Handling and Lifting
This session addressed the identifiable factors in worksite
manual handling tasks that contribute to a high incidence of musculoskeletal
injury, in particular, lower back injury. Injury mechanisms were analyzed and
preventive strategies were discussed. There was a brief demonstration of
software that analyzes worksite lifting tasks developed by the University of
Michigan Center for Ergonomics. Speakers: Ron V. Croce, Ph.D., is a
Professor of Kinesiology at UNH. He specializes in neuromotor control mechanisms
and structural kinesiology. Andrew Mahar, M.S., is Research Biomechanist of
Qualisys, Inc., specializing in ergonomics and biomechanics.
Designing from the NIOSH Lifting Formula
In this session the NIOSH formula was studied in
detail, down to the multipliers, to provide insight to design. Even though the
NIOSH Lifting Formula is limited to certain types of lifts, it has great promise
as a design tool to improve currently functional, as well as proposed lifts.
Conferees were asked to participate in paper analysis and designs. Speaker:
John LaCourse, Ph.D.
Ergonomics of Inclusion: Workplace Strategies for People with Disabilities
This session looked at philosophical and practical
approaches to reasonable accommodation, including high-tech and low-tech
assistive strategies for employing people with disabilities. Speaker:
Neil B. Vroman, Ph.D., R.P.T., is Associate Professor of Kinesiology and
Associate Dean of UNH’s School of Health and Human Services. He specializes in
ergonomics and human performance and rehabilitation engineering.
Computer Workstation Setup
This session reviewed basic computer workstation setup
parameters and work method modifications that can help keep CTDs under control.
Computer use and access has increased dramatically. Placement of equipment and
various work methods can contribute to awkward and/or prolonged postures, which
have been associated with CTDs. A variety of equipment, including ergonomic
keyboards, was on display. Speaker: Denise Finch, O.T.R., C.H.T., C.C.M.,
is the founder of WorkRite Medical Associates, a registered occupational
therapist, and a certified hand specialist, who specializes in industrial
rehabilitation. She has extensive worksite evaluation experience that assists
injured workers to remain at work through the use of both medical and ergonomic
concepts.
Cumulative Trauma and Repetitive Motion Injuries - Their Effects on the Workers’ Compensation System
This talk centered around what happens with the
injuries in the workers’ compensation system. It covered case management, denied
claims, hearing and appeal processes. The focus was on how these injuries
interact with various requirements for temporary alternative duty programs. It
was discussed how employers, insurance carriers, and medical staff need to
communicate to enable safe return to work for the injured employee. Speaker:
Francis LeFavour has over 18 years’ experience in human resources and is
owner of FPL Services, an HR consulting firm in Newmarket. She has been
appointed to the NH Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, NH Wage & Hour
Appeals Board, and NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board. She also serves on
the Business and Industry Association’s Workers’ Compensation Subcommittee as
chair and its HR Committee as vice-chair.
Indoor Climate Factors
The impact of indoor thermal environmental extremes on
worker performance and productivity was explored in this session. The
physiological basis of heat and cold stress and the interaction of the physical
demands of the task with these environmental stresses were discussed.
Speaker: Neil Vroman, Ph.D., R.P.T.
HVAC Design for Airflow
The subject of "What is Proper Airflow?" was presented
in this session. The competing requirements for low cost buildings versus a good
quality working environment means that building owner/operators and HVAC
designers need to be clear on the goals. Large amounts of outside air and
well-ventilated spaces make for a good quality environment, but increase
construction and operating costs. Speaker: Ralph Draper, M.S.M.E.,
P.E., is Associate Professor of Engineering Technology at UNH and
specializes in life support and environmental control systems.
Preventing Electrical Hazards
This session covered the physiological effects of
electric shock, the types of electrical hazards that may exist in the workplace,
and how properly installed and maintained equipment can reduce electrical
hazards. Speaker: Don Melvin, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of
Electrical Engineering and former Associate Dean of UNH’s College of Engineering
and Physical Sciences.
Noise and Vibration
This session looked at issues concerning noise and
vibration: what causes them; how they are measured; how they are sensed by the
body; the results of too much; standards; and means of abatement. Noise and
vibration are facts of life in today’s very highly mechanized society. While
they can be useful at moderate levels, damage can ensue if they get out of
control. Speaker: Allen Drake, Ph.D., is a licensed engineer and an
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at UNH. One of his research
specialties is instrumentation, which he has applied to various physiological
entities, including the auditory system.
Measuring Air Quality, Sound, and Lighting
In this session attendees learned how to select and use
instruments, make accurate measurements, and compare results of comfort and
health standards. Air quality, sound, and lighting are environmental conditions
that can be uncomfortable as well as unhealthy. The role of the "industrial
hygienist" is to analyze the human environment for these factors. Speaker:
Steve Larson is the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at the UNH.
Dinner Presentation: The Link between Stress and Safety in the Workplace
Speaker: Donna Singer is an organizational
consultant around the US. For the past 20 years she’s led employee and
management training and human relations programs.
How Lighting Affects People; Designing an Effectively Lit Worksite
This session covered: lighting terminology; vision
and glare; color; light sources; lighting fixtures; optical control of light;
lighting economics; psychological aspects of lighting; and the effects of
lighting on health. Lighting affects people’s ability to perform visual tasks
and to feel comfortable in their work environment.. Special attention was given
to Visual Display Terminals. Speakers: Joseph Murdoch, Ph.D., is
Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at UNH, past president of the
Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), recipient of UNH’s
Distinguished Professor Award, and author of a book and numerous technical
papers on lighting. Paula Ziegenbein is a commercial engineer for
Osram/Sylvania’s New England District. She has special training in lighting, and
has held several positions involving the application of light sources. She is
also vice-president of IESNA/New England and a frequent teacher of IESNA
lighting courses.
Should We Be Electrophobic?
This informal discussion presented an introduction to the
propagation of electromagnetic fields and how they interact with humans.
Standards were discussed and the relationship of these standards to the
interpretation of risk (i.e. cancer). Speaker: Kent Chamberlin, Ph.D.,
is Professor of Electrical Engineering at the UNH. He specializes in
electromagnetic wave research.
Industrial Design
An industrial workstation, including workspace and tools,
should allow productivity, quality work, and an ergonomically hazard-free
environment. Discussed were sound engineering principles as they relate to
workstation and tool design and to the goal of reducing ergonomic risk factors.
Speaker: John LaCourse, PhD.
People & Productivity: Optimizing Manufacturing Operations Through Better Plant Layout
Different types of manufacturing strategies for
optimizing productivity were discussed. Discussions included factory floor
configurations, work flow characteristics, ergonomic issues, and the cultural
impacts of change on the production process. Attendees also reviewed various
analytical techniques for determining optimum manufacturing configurations, and
looked at implementation methods that can insure success. Case histories
provided examples of each technique. Speaker: Carl Spang is President of
the Kestrel Group, Inc. a consulting company specializing in manufacturing and
logistics solutions. He has over 20 years’ manufacturing experience, with
management positions in materials, operations, planning, and information
systems.
The first ergonomics workshop was held as a
symposium and sponsored only by the IAP. There were over 120 attendees at a
subsidized cost of $25 per person. The present cost for attendance is $545 per
person. Past attendees included Pratt & Whitney, Nashua Corp., Cabletron,
Ben & Jerry’s, Hitchiner Mfg., Raytheon, etc.
The conference/workshop is now in its seventh
year with the eighth annual conference to be held on April 14 & 15, 1998.
Please come and join us.
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