19
Sep, 22
What to wear? Can a uniform be “ergonomic”?
Wearing a uniform allows a worker to use more optimum body mechanics. This makes the uniform "ergonomic".
10
Sep, 22
Landing stations respond to sit/stand requests
The flood of requests for sit/stand desks shows no sign of slowing down, and probably for good reason. Now that we can type, mouse and even hold meetings without getting out of our chair, people are feeling virtually (pun intended) chained to their desks. Decades ago, people delivered voice messages on little pink sheets, and […]
06
Sep, 22
Labour Thanksgiving Day
I might be getting Labour Day and Thanksgiving mixed up a bit, but this seemed like a good time to reflect on how grateful I am to have such a hardworking bunch of co-workers. I don’t remember a time when our entire team was so keen to innovate. It’s almost like our tagline could be […]
29
Aug, 22
How can we make a job less repetitive?
Work is “repetitive” in many work environments. People package and palletize, load presses, use paint guns, and more . After an injury occurs, an employee’s health care provider may limit the employee from “repetitive” work. In a workplace where thousands of items are produced per shift, how can you find work that is not “repetitive”? What […]
15
Aug, 22
What are “cognitive demands” and why do we include them in our reports?
A PCDA is a physical and cognitive demands analysis. It’s a very detailed description of all of the work that an employee does regularly, including pushing/pulling/lifting/gripping/pinching forces, photos, hand height, and reaches. A PCDA allows a supervisor or return-to-work coordinator to compare an employee’s functional abilities with the demands of any job. It also allows […]
01
Aug, 22
Just one quick question: What height…?
What height should this work bench be? This is a simple enough question, but getting to the answer is remarkably complex. The best height for a task depends on: The effort required. Heavier work should be lower than elbow height, whereas lighter work should be at elbow height. The precision required. If you need to […]
25
Jul, 22
Longevity and ergonomics
Over the past 25+ years, I’ve shared articles about issues that were relevant to me at specific times in my life: pregnancy, ergonomics with (and for) children, pets, camping, cottaging, travel, and so on. When I meet new people at business functions, those who have been reading our newsletters and blogs often tell me that […]
11
Jul, 22
There once was an ergonomist, who lived on a hill
I vacationed last week at a cottage which, like many lakeside island properties, was elevated from the lake. We’ve spent quite a lot of leisure time at this property, and so we’ve come to appreciate the view that the elevation provides. We also try to appreciate the exercise that is associated with hauling groceries, water, […]