safety

12 Feb, 24

Making ergonomics “go viral”: How social media marketing applies to ergonomics awareness

Research by Carter Deforest Our team has been doing some research with the primary goal of improving our social media engagement (follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook!). Along the way, we’ve learned that many of the principles that apply to successful social media campaigns also apply to ergonomics awareness initiatives. When we want to […]
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worker being instructed how to remove heavy pan from oven
10 Oct, 23

When does “reinstructing the worker” help?

Some of our clients pass their strain/sprain injury reports to our ergonomists for review, investigation, or other support.  I have to say, every time I see the corrective action listed as “Reinstruct the worker,” I wince quietly. I imagine the supervisor sitting with the worker, who is in pain, and saying, “Next time, make sure […]
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ergonomics under the safety or engineering umbrella
25 Sep, 23

Where does ergonomics belong – Safety or Engineering?

Most of our clients hire us because they need help to reduce sprain/strain injuries. We are typically contacted by the Human Resources department or, more specifically, Health and Safety. This is a natural consequence of the way most organizations see ergonomics: fitting work to people so strain/sprain injuries can be avoided. As we’ve pointed out […]
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18 Sep, 23

What is the maximum weight a worker can lift? (Nationally, Provincially, and Practically)

This is a question that is often asked of ergonomists. Many people believe that the maximum is 23 kg, or 50 lbs. Here are the facts: Nationally (Canada) Nationally, certain regulations apply to federally regulated organizations, such as airlines and banks, as defined by the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304), specifically Division III, […]
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17 Apr, 23

The wheel on the bus

We have worked with bus drivers extensively over the years, and it is surprising how a small adjustment can significantly improve their driving comfort. Bus seats typically offer more adjustability than a typical office chair, which means that if the driver takes the time to adjust it, the “ergonomics” of the workstation can be quite […]
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cost-justifying physical and cognitive demands analyses
03 Apr, 23

How can PCDAs save you money?

(Would you rather watch than read? Video version here: https://youtu.be/1euljH9RrRw ) Physical and cognitive demands analyses (PCDAs), in contrast to ergo assessments, provide only a summary of job requirements. They don’t include an analysis of injury risk or recommendations to reduce those risks. So technically, they don’t directly result in improvements to a job. How could […]
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