Noboy likes meetings, but if we gotta have them then they might as well have the participants comfort in mind.

Technology Talk: The Ergonomics Era

Ergonomic Partners Home Page


June 23, 2008
By Michael Goldstein

Meeting planning means stress, whether you're on the road, on a fam trip, or back at the office trying to catch up. But taking an ergonomic approach can help protect your health—and the health of your delegates—at the office and at meetings.

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics, also called human factors analysis or human factors engineering, comes from the Greek for "the study of work." Designers consider ergonomics when deciding how to arrange and design devices, machines, or workspaces so that people and things interact safely and efficiently.

Adopting an ergonomic approach means working comfortably and avoiding health issues like back problems and repetitive stress injuries. Meeting sites, from the Hotel Palomar Dallas to the Pullman Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and the Hilton Antwerp, emphasize their ergonomic approach, such as offering meeting rooms with ergonomic seating.

But a healthy work or meeting environment isn't just about equipment. An easy way to prevent back pain, for example, is to simply get up and stretch every hour or so. While you may hit some resistance, encouraging delegates to stand up and stretch for a minute or two can make a big difference in relieving stress and pressure on the back.

When Traveling, Experts Suggest:

* Limit lifting: E-mail those handouts and print them on site, rather than lug them.

* Just say no to hauling: Rent equipment like data projectors on site, instead of carrying them.

* Move around the plane if flight attendants let you; if not, at least move your feet and legs.

* Noise-canceling headsets cut the noise and tune out talkative seatmates.

* Never carry your luggage: Use curbside check-in at the airport and, when you arrive at your destination after hours of stiffening travel on a plane, use the hotel bellman to save strain. Consider prepaying for bellman services and let delegates know, so they don't strain reaching into their pocketbooks.

At the meeting site:

* Cords that are not taped down are tripping hazards; check your prospective AV group in action to be sure they don't cut corners this way.

* Standing behind the lectern is fatiguing, and a moving speaker keeps the audience alert.

* Check with the site to see if it has ergonomic seating, and don't ask delegates to sit still for four hours.

* Don't over-schedule; late dinners, drinking, and dancing are fun, but often not the delegate's usual routine, so allow time for rest and recreation.

Toward a more ergonomic office:

At the office or at PC stations at your meeting site, you can check for ergonomic factors like proper sitting position, chair adjustment and mobility, keyboard and mouse height, and monitor angle and distance. A North Carolina company, Active Ergonomics, shows what to look for at www. actergo.com/evaluate.php.

For example, reaching up, down, or over to use your keyboard and mouse can put you in a twisted posture. Similarly, the monitor should be more or less level with your eyes, as tilting your head to look up at the monitor can twist your neck.

Some ergonomic products, like the famed Herman Miller Aeron chair, which start at $749 at companies like www.ultimatebackstore.com, are costly.

But others offer simple and inexpensive fixes. A monitor riser (which Active Ergonomics sells for $6 each in packs of four) will raise the monitor off the desk an inch or two so you're looking straight at it, without twisting your neck.

Similarly, a vertical-plane document holder (such as a Fellowes model available at Office Depot for $13.99) can reduce muscle fatigue in your neck and shoulders, while also improving productivity and typing efficiency.

And just as you use a Bluetooth earpiece for your cell phone, consider a lightweight telephone headset in the office if you make a lot of calls.

Extra Bytes: Audio to Go

Want to put some pop in laptop-based presentations—or entertain yourself in some lonely hotel room? Pack a pair of Logitech's V20 Notebook Speakers, which provide two watts of stereo sound with deep base, along with easy-to-use music controls.

While a bit hefty at three pounds, the V20s are simple to plug in to your PC or Mac notebook via a USB connection, don't require a separate power source, and come with their own travel case. (www.bestbuy.com, $69.99)

Originally published June 01, 2008

Ergonomics Help for Employees, and Employers

Ergonomic Partners Home Page

Ergonomics help for employers, employees

LAPORTE — LaPorte Regional Health System has added ergonomics to the benefits offered through Corporate Health Services for businesses in surrounding communities.

The assistance will help improve the safety of work environments for both employers and employees, and help prevent workplace injuries and lower medical costs for employers. The science of ergonomics can be applied to any workplace setting, including office, material handling, construction, manufacturing and transportation.

Ron Knickrehm, physical therapist and certified ergonomic assessment specialist, will provide the assistance. “Employees who have the knowledge of proper ergonomics will be healthier, and a healthier employee is more productive,” Knickrehm says.


Employers interested in more information about work-site ergonomic services may call Dan Todd at (219) 851-3827 or e-mail him at dtodd@lph.org.

As seen in southbendtribune.com

New Gorbel Application Case Study

Industry: Manufacturer of Commercial Walk-in Freezers and Coolers

For more Gorbel information from Ergonomic Partners, see http://www.ergonomicpartners.com/gorbel-cranes.htm

Application: Freezer panels move down an assembly line where they are framed, then filled with an injected foam, and finished. The panels range in size from 4' x 6' to 4' x 24' and weigh up to 300 lbs.


Gorbel® Solution: Two Side by Side Free Standing Work Station Bridge Cranes with 100 ft. runways and 25 ft. bridges.


The Problem:

Panels are moved manually throughout the assembly line with a push cart
Lifting the panels required 2 - 6 people depending on the size
Operators were complaining of back strains
Carts caused congestion and required dedicated floor space to move panels through the line

Why Gorbel Was The Smart Solution: The companies primary goal was to increase productivity. The previous high count for a day was 500. Now the plant is able to produce 700 panels in a day even with the elimination of overtime hours, an increase of 40%. The operators are also able to move the panels without assistance and they don't complain of back strains. The cart paths were entirely eliminated, which allowed for more usable floor space for production.

Press Release--Check out Gorbel's lighter capacity articulating jib crane, The freestanding Pivot Pro

Free Standing PIVOT PRO™ (PPRO-FS) has a lighter less bulky design, making it easier to move. It provides easy rotation and consistent responsiveness when positioning loads throughout the cranes coverage area. The force required to start and stop the boom rotation is so much less than with other types of cranes that is significantly reduces injury and improves safety.

It can also be utilized for light air or electric hoist applications.


Capacities from 50-150 lbs., spans up to 12 ft., height under boom to 12 ft.
Floor mounted for easy installation and relocation
No foundation required
Designed to fit all major vacuum equipment manufacturers
Suited for applications where maneuvering around obstacles, through doorways, or rotating in close to the mast is necessary.

Any more questions on the Gorbel Pivot Pro contact sales@ergonomicpartners.com for more information.

Take a Proactive approach to Ergonomics

Taking a Proactive Approach to Ergonomics
By AllBusiness.com
Published: June 24, 2008
Today manufacturers are selling chairs, workstations, keyboards, monitors, and even staplers and calculators designed with ergonomics in mind. These products are meant to reduce what the U.S. Department of Labor calls work-related musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, which include carpal tunnel syndrome. But are these products being used universally and to their full potential?

AllBusiness.com is a business Web site that provides information and services to small businesses.
Tip: Comfort Equals Productivity
By AllBusiness.com
Studies show that comfort and productivity are interrelated, and most experts agree that almost every office can benefit from a few changes in layout and organization. Encourage employees to customize their workstations with accessories that help them work comfortably - keyboard trays, anti-glare screens, task lighting and footrests - and to adjust their chairs to the proper height and angle. You can even hire an ergonomic expert to consult with each worker individually. A quick evaluation will determine what each employee needs to do to avoid repetitive-stress injuries.
According to the labor department, hundreds of thousands of days of work are lost every year due to MSDs, making up about one-third of the days lost to all injuries. For a small business, the loss of one or two workers because of an MSD could dramatically impact the business's productivity and bottom line. But despite this, many businesses have adopted a reactive approach to ergonomics and MSDs. For example, a new employee is shown his or her generic workstation and told to use the chair that's available or to forage for a chair from an empty cubicle. Sound familiar? The business may bring in an ergonomics specialist to retrofit the environment if the employee ends up showing signs of an MSD, but then it could be too late to avoid lost days.
Why do businesses steer clear of a proactive approach? There are various reasons, including the costs of a companywide ergonomics program with a consultant or designated staff member, or ignorance on the part of the employer. And when a proactive approach is attempted, many well-meaning employers and employees might think "ergonomically designed" solutions can be one-size-fits-all. Since every human differs physically, such as the length of arms, legs, and trunk, one size is not the answer. Fortunately many ergonomic solutions are adjustable.
The challenge is getting people to do individual research about the subject matter before an injury occurs. The Internet offers basic information on good practices, equipment, and consultants. Google alone has about 9,870,000 entries for "ergonomics."
Some companies have found brief e-seminars and traditional training sessions, with or without a consultant or designated staff member, to be effective in getting the word out. The effectiveness usually increases when the training covers the individual traits of employees and the employees' environment. Obviously that level of detail requires planning and employee research. Even so, when the potential time required is weighed against the potential loss of days, productivity, and revenue caused by musculoskeletal disorders, a proactive approach to ergonomics with training could be the healthiest, most cost-effective choice for a business of any size.

MHIA New Website--Check it out

News
MHIA launches new website
09 May 2008
The recently launched MHIA website, www.mhia.org, was designed to become a valuable tool and resource for end users who need access to the latest material handling and logistics product solutions, case studies, learning resources and industry news.
Each industry group is featured on streamlined and improved micro-sites. The addition of video and graphic files not only add to the visual appeal, but are useful tools to help illustrate the products and services offered by members and industry groups.
The site includes a learning center, developed and designed as a centralized location to make it easy to locate and download all MHIA educational information. Users can find market research, case studies, a glossary of terms, E-lessons, resource downloads, videos and more.
A green resources micro-site with links to news, information and video about supply chain sustainability, green manufacturing, alternative energy sources, and more, is also available. Additionally, users can subscribe to RSS feeds and a streamlined My MHIA personalized home page

MHIA Annual Meeting

News
Stage set for MHIA Fall Meeting
14 June 2008
The MHIA Annual Meetings will be held September 7-11 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. Complete meeting details and on-line registrations will be available at www.mhia.org/fall2008 soon.

Overhead Bridge Cranes--creating new space for your factory

Up and away with overhead cranes
Whether a load weighs 25 pounds or 100 tons, overhead cranes gets them off the floor and to their destination.
By Gary Forger, Editorial Director -- Modern Materials Handling, 11/1/2001
Make best use of the cube. It's been said so many times, and has never had greater value than now. Yet, so many managers think only of higher racks and new mezzanines to minimize footprints and maximize vertical space usage. But their options don't stop there.
Quite literally, overhead cranes add a new dimension to the movement of materials in a facility. While conveyors and lift trucks are focused on moving inventory, work-in-process, and finished goods at or near floor level, cranes do most of their work well above the floor and often at ceiling height. This, in turn, frees up the floor for other activities, making overhead cranes a space saver in addition to being an efficient way to move loads.
Long known for their ability to transport loads of many tons from one end of a facility to another, cranes are equally adept at moving much lighter loads within the relatively small area of an individual workstation.
In fact, the latter has taken on increasing importance as the ergonomics of handling loads has received greater scrutiny. Twenty-five pounds is now considered to be at the high end of the manual lifting range, not 50 pounds. Similarly, it is estimated that nine out of 10 loads handled in industry weigh 300 pounds or less, considerably less than what was once the case.
The end result is that enclosed-track workstation cranes are now much more widely used than they once were. At the same time, jib and gantry cranes are often used at workstations as well as other applications. Bridge cranes, the fourth type, are the heavy lifters, handling not only the largest loads but those that need to travel the greatest distance in the least amount of time.
All four types of cranes can be used in warehousing/distribution operations as well as manufacturing. Except for steel service centers and similar operations, however, cranes are most often associated with manufacturing operations.
Regardless of the specific application, each crane type offers its own range of movement, both directionally and in distance, while handling loads of various dimensions and weights. In addition, the frequency of moves differs by crane type.
While most cranes are either electric or air powered, some are operated manually. As with other types of materials handling equipment, manual operation is generally confined to applications handling the lightest loads and the least frequency of use.
In all of this lifting, lowering, and moving of loads, cranes can't do it all. They are typically used with hoists tailored to the job at hand. See the Click-on at mmh.com for a rundown of the types of hoists and their applications. A crane for every load
Bridge cranes make the biggest impression of the four types because they move loads of many tons from one end of a large facility to another. The standard configuration is two steel girder runways attached to the building at ceiling height. In some cases, the crane is positioned further down the wall of the building. Either one or two additional girders span the two runways, creating the bridge. The bridge girders are attached on each side to an end truck that travels along the runway.
Applications run from heavy manufacturing, fabrication shops, and steel service centers to large paper roll handling. The various designs are suitable to specific requirements.
Top-running double-girder bridge cranes generally carry the heaviest loads, as much as 100 tons. True to its name, this design has two parallel girders mounted on top of the runway beams. The hoist is mounted on a trolley that runs atop the girders, maximizing the lifting height of loads. As with all other bridge cranes, the combination of hoist, runway, and bridge movement provides six directions of travel for any load.
Top-running single-girder bridge cranes are much the same but have only one bridge between runways. This design requires the hoist's trolley to run along the lower flange of the girder, reducing lifting height somewhat as well as carrying capacity.
There are also two underhung bridge crane designs. Rather than having the girder on top of the runway, these have the bridge girder trolley running along the lower flange of the runway. Capacity of both single- and double-girder underhung cranes are less than the top-running ones. Lifting height is reduced also.
Traditionally, overhead bridge cranes, especially top running ones, have been under the control of an operator that rides in a cab attached to the bridge. Unfortunately, the frequency of moves often leaves the operator idle a significant portion of the shift. With that in mind, many users are looking at other control options - pendant or radio remote control.
Both put the operator on the floor, and allow maximum use of that person's time. Pendant controls are hard wired to the crane, requiring the operator to walk with the crane as it moves. The drawback here is the inherent inflexibility of movement and potential for accidents as a result. Radio remote control eliminates that inflexibility and potential danger, allowing the operator to remain in one position as the crane moves. Both pendant and radio remote control can be used with other types of cranes too.
A cousin of the bridge crane is known as the gantry. This floor-mounted type uses either a single or double leg to support the bridge that the hoist trolley runs along. While the double leg design supports both sides of the bridge, a wall rail provides the support on the other side of the single leg. In both cases, the leg travels along a floor rail.
The enclosed-track workstation crane is another takeoff on the overhead bridge. Much like the double-leg gantry, these can be built anywhere in the plant or warehouse. It consists of four vertical columns that are anchored to the floor to create the four corners of the crane's work envelope. Two parallel runways connect the columns on each side. An underhung bridge in the form of an enclosed track with a hoist on a trolley moves from one end of the runway to the other, providing the range of motion for the workstation. Loads under 50 pounds or greater than 1,000 pounds can be easily lifted and moved with great precision within the work envelope.
The final category of cranes is the jib, which is not a derivation of the bridge crane. As with the other types, jibs come in several different designs.
The simplest is the wall-mounted jib crane. It consists of a horizontal girder that attaches to the wall with a pivot. A steel cable extends from the end of the horizontal beam at a 45 degree angle to an anchor point on the wall above the crane, providing support. The pivot allows the beam to swing 180 degrees. The range of motion of the hoist and its trolley as well as the load is limited to the length of the beam.
A floor-mounted jib replaces the wall with a vertical column that can be placed anywhere in the facility. Depending on the pivot mount, the jib can swing 180 or 270 degrees. A floor-mounted, free-rotating column design provides 360 degree range of movement, as does a ceiling-mounted rotating column jib. Another floor-mounted version places the vertical column on a floor-mounted runway, allowing the jib to travel some distance. Similarly, a wall-traveling design allows the horizontal beam and its load to move along a runway mounted above the beam.
As can be seen, not only do cranes add a new dimension to materials handling, but they are a match for a load of any size.

Stripped Down Ergonomics

June 17, 2008
Stripped-Down Ergonomics
By William Kincaid
There isn't one particular school of thought in ergonomics as to the "best" way to implement ergonomic improvements.
There are some methods that are more rigorous and science-based than others, and naturally are more time-intensive. There are also stripped-down ways to get the job done faster and easier.
Ergonomists have various approaches depending on the situation. It may not be necessary to use analysis tools, to create elaborate written descriptions of before and after conditions or to measure and document the magnitudes of ergonomic stressors. These are all useful parts of a disciplined ergonomics process, but not necessarily do-or-die necessities for all ergonomics work.
One generally will see these aspects detailed in the work of outside ergonomics consultants who provide full documentation to their clients so the clients get as much beneficial information as possible. In such situations there is a need to provide the facts that back up recommendations for changes – before-and-after measurements so results can be weighed as successes or failures, data to show if a problem might need more work, comparative information for setting spending priorities, etc. This fully documented technical approach also is virtually mandatory for in-house ergonomics staff at larger companies.
Measurements usually are taken before and after ergonomic changes have been implemented. Measurements include various joint angles, estimates of hand gripping force and cycle times. These numbers can be plugged into analytical tools, the most well-known including Snook push-pull tables, the NIOSH “Lifting Equation,” the Job Strain Index and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment, comparing the measured states against established criteria. We also might see videos or still photos taken before and after as part of the documentation package.
A leaner approach to ergonomics might cut to the chase, hit the obvious issues first and mainly save that sort of technical deliberation and documentation for prioritizing where tightly budgeted resources will go.
The drawback to the lighter touch in analysis and documentation is a lack of hard data for all the various uses to which such data can be applied. But there is a substantial savings in the time necessary to accomplish something. The trick is to minimize the measurements and documentation without sacrificing any validity as a result.
Success Story
Some of my clients practice this approach in their manufacturing cells. They use a system that lives on employee involvement. Rather than do a lot of intensive measurements and documentation, they look for the easy-to-spot, easy-to-fix issues. Since nothing they consider will cost much to change, there’s little need for elaborate deliberations or prioritization.
Employees had a short ergonomics class that included a brief, simple “hit list” of easily identified ergonomic issues. They were given the assignment to conduct a broad review their work areas against this hit list. The list contained standards that the company’s core ergonomics team (mostly hourly people) had decided the company should aspire to as closely as possible in all new lines and renovations. There was also a list of visible “ergo don’ts” to draw attention to some of the more obvious ergonomic stressors. An example is in the company’s use of counterbalance suspension devices for powered hand tools. These counterbalances had been in use for some time when a new ergonomic initiative allowed the employees some time on the clock to review how effective they were. They decided some counterbalancers were taking the tools up much higher than necessary, some had more spring tension than necessary and some were detached from the tools and not used at all. Quick adjustments were made and the workstations were a little less stressful as a result.
In the case of the counterbalancers that were not in use, employees saw that the problem was in all cases a need for horizontal movement of the tool, yet the counterbalancers resisted more than a few degrees of motion. The counterbalancer cables were extended and the reels relocated to substantially higher mounting points. The horizontal movement was thus much greater within a few degrees of easy movement.
This employee team carried out their simple approach consistently over the course of a year and developed a long list of successes. It was easy to compare the before and after against the hit list, and there were other results to be seen later as time passed. Injuries dropped and the production rate improved.
These employees, having been the “parents” of their ergonomic ideas, were eager to see them succeed. They also had a personal interest in developing ways to cut costs (fewer injuries, better efficiency) that might stave off clumsy, morale-damaging staff reductions.
This example shows that a less-documented, leaner approach to ergonomics has its uses. It may not work for all or even most companies, but there are some out there who don’t want a thick report with numbers, pictures and appendices. All they want is some good ideas. A leaner, stripped down approach to ergonomics can work in such situations.
William H. Kincaid, P.E., CSP, is a vice president and loss control consultant with Lockton Companies, LLC.

Occupational Hazards, William Kincaid

Certified Safety Professionals

Travel, Long Hours, More Responsibilities: Today's CSPs
June 16, 2008
Today's Certified Safety Professional is working more than 40 hours a week, traveling for work, and responsible for significantly more areas (such as ergonomics, security, systems safety, and environmental matters) than when they entered the field. Still, they enjoy the work and earn high salaries, according to a January 2008 salary survey conducted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and presented last week at the 2008 American Society of Safety Engineers' meeting in Las Vegas.
About 7,000 people who hold CSP certification were invited to take the online survey, and 2,572 responded, according to the BCSP paper included on ASSE's proceedings CD. Thirty-eight percent of the respondents work in manufacturing, and 29.5 percent of the respondents work for companies with more than 25,000 employees. Only about 12 percent of the respondents work 40 hours per week or less, and only 6.8 percent of the respondents said their job does not involve travel. For 9.6 percent of the respondents, they are traveling half of the time they are working, or more.
The chart showing how responsibilities have grown since the respondents entered professional practice is interesting. While job responsibilities in all 20 practice areas (including Other) have increased, the greatest increases were for ergonomics, risk management, safety engineering, occupational health, and environmental work. About 73 percent of the respondents said their annual compensation exceeds $80,000, and most (92.7 percent) said they are eligible for bonus pay.

http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/64381/

How to Establish a Safety-Based Culture

How to Establish a Safety-Based Culture
Scott GaddisCorporate Manager, Global Occupational Safety and Health, Kimberly-Clark Professional
In a manufacturing environment, a company’s greatest asset is its workers, and protecting those workers from illnesses or workplace injuries is critical to success. Operating an injury-free facility is no longer a dream. In many workplaces, it has become a reality – and not just for a year, but for several years running. Creating a workplace that is free of illness and injury begins with one crucial decision: making safety a core value. Better yet, it should be an organization’s chief value.
At Kimberly-Clark Professional the safety vision calls for an absolute belief that every employee can create and maintain a workplace free of illness and injury. That vision has paid off with a current total incident rate of 0.7 versus 4.2 in 1996 and a current Severity Index Rate of 32 compared to 345 a decade ago. In 2005 and 2006 several manufacturing sites and a staff team achieved one year of work without injury. In fact, the best-in-class facility in Corinth, MS, has sustained this level of performance for more than four years and is expected to exceed 1.5 million hours without a single injury or illness in 2007.
These results can be attributed to a culture that embraces safety and empowers employees to maintain a commitment to safety in everything they do. The key to this success is establishing a safety-based culture that starts at the top. In the past, manufacturers have been told that safety is a line-driven activity that must first be implemented at the bottom of an organization and then work its way to the top. But the reverse is true. Safety must start with an organization’s senior management team. Leadership must demonstrate an active commitment to safety and promote that commitment with a passion, down and through the entire organization. The very best leaders deliver safety values with true passion and understand that their employees are responsible for their company’s success.
Involve Every Level of the Company
To improve the safety culture of an organization, the following should occur:
The safety process must touch every person in the organization.
Safety must be a permanent agenda item, discussed at the start of every meeting.
Leaders must be held accountable for safety performance.
Safety must be the operational fabric of a facility, not a separate function.
Safety must be integral to every business activity.
OSHA concurs with this assessment, stating that “the best Safety and Health Programs involve every level of the organization, instilling a safety culture that reduces accidents for workers and improves the bottom line for managers,” concluding that “when safety and health are part of the organization and a way of life, everyone wins.”
Under this approach “safety departments” do not exist. Safety professionals still have a vitally important role, but it shifts to a resource function that empowers others through capability development, coaching and mentoring. The very best safety programs are owned at the manufacturing line, utilizing production-level employees on teams to develop and implement the safety processes. Safety must also be aligned with all other business functions to ensure that it receives the resources and attention that it deserves.
Turn Employees Into Safety Leaders
To be successful, organizations should create career paths that turn employees into safety leaders by making sure that everyone is highly trained and motivated not just to succeed, but to exceed expectations. Workers should be mentored, to help them contribute to the safety process. The organization should also develop an environment and culture that supports the belief that every employee can create and maintain a workplace free of illness and injury. The result of this investment will be establishing, within workers, a sense of ownership of the safety process and a shift within the organization from an independent to an interdependent culture. This can help drive employees to eliminate unsafe behaviors and conditions and to focus on eliminating injuries entirely, rather than just meeting regulatory requirements.
According to OSHA, when a company’s safety culture is strong, “everyone feels responsible for safety and pursues it on a daily basis; employees go beyond ‘the call of duty’ to identify unsafe conditions and behaviors, and intervene to correct them.”
With this in mind, consider posting the following safety principles throughout your facility to remind employees of the importance your organization places on achieving its safety goals:
Any person can and must confront unsafe behaviors and/or conditions. No one is authorized to disregard such a warning.
No one is expected to perform any function or accept any direction that they believe is unsafe to themselves or others, or creates an unsafe situation, regardless of who directs such an action.
Anyone who feels that a process is unsafe will shut down that process and work with appropriate team members to create a safe situation.
A Safety Process Model
Adhering to a simple process model is another highly effective component of an overall strategy for improving the safety of a manufacturing facility. The model below focuses on four aspects of safety:
Leadership – As stated earlier, leadership is key. Leaders must lead and support the safety process wholeheartedly. They must communicate the importance of safety as well as the value and respect they have for the people who work for them. In addition, facility managers should meet regularly with staff to review safety events and issues, track progress and establish future goals, teach safety training sessions and participate in mentoring.
Environment – It’s essential to ensure that the overall environment is safe, equipment is properly cared for, operating practices are adhered to and engineering standards are followed. To accomplish this, conduct a design safety review of all equipment from inception and a full ergonomic review before installation and bi-annually after that. Establish extensive inspection programs to ensure compliance and be on the lookout for new technologies to reduce risk. Always ask yourself what you can do to make the physical workplace safer and reduce risk.
Personnel – Investing in people is paramount to success. The best organizations will first seek to hire the right people and then develop their capabilities and skill sets. Be sure to include questions about safety as part of the hiring process, to gain an understanding of a prospective employee’s knowledge of safety and to communicate your company’s commitment to safety. Also require safety/loss control training for all manufacturing employees, assign mentors to new and transferred employees, and provide annual written safety evaluations for all workers.
Behavior and Expectations – Changing organizational behavior is what transforms a facility from good to world class. When passion for safety is driven by a leadership team, it filters down to the floor and will encourage workers to actively care about one another and fosters interdependence within the organization. The job of leadership is to train employees so they make the right decisions. Observation and feedback can help set expectations and change behavior. Teamwork is also critical to success.
Following a simple process safety model such as this can help steer a facility toward its goal of creating a safer workplace. But a successful safety program must also include honest self-inspection to continually improve. This means creating a system that enables production-level employees to communicate honestly to the facility manager and vice versa. Measurement tools should also be established to help determine what is working and what is not. And don’t be afraid of failing or not reaching established goals. Finding mistakes will allow an organization to make changes and adjust the safety process to close any gaps.
Kimberly-Clark ProfessionalRoswell, GA30076888-346-4652www.kcprofessional.comRequest Additional Information

G-Force Helps Workers Catch Up to Assembly Line's Output!

Convertible car tops weighing 220 lbs. are brought into a work bay where they are finished. From here they are moved to a pallet lift and prepared for a final inspection. The original finishing operation used a two-speed chain hoist to lift and move the product.
Problem:
The chain hoist inhibited production speed
Operators had trouble controlling the large parts with the chain hoist
Twisted chains and wires in hoist from operator's movements
Product was backing up in this cell effecting overall production
The Gorbel Solution: A G-Force® 330 lb. capacity Q model equipped with a G360™ swivel collector, mounted to a Gorbel Work Station Crane with an Aluminum Bridge.

Why G-Force® Was The Smart Solution: The Q model G-Force® was a great fit for the application because the G360™ swivel allowed the tooling to continuously rotate without twisting the coil cord. The workers natural flow in this application is circular which caused problems for the previous lifting devices. The speed that the operators are now able to work, and the frequency of loads they are able to handle has greatly increased. They are now able to keep up with the lines output of 22 units per hour, whereas before they were falling behind.

Ergonomic Partners is excited about Gorbels new G-Force Models.

Ergonomic Partners has integrated many ergonomic lift assists with the G-Force and these new models and features provide even more opportunities for our customers to be able to utilize the G-Force. We would love to look at your custom lifting application--we can even provide an on-site demo of the G-Force. Read on for more information on this exciting product

Our Newest G-Force® Q/iQ Models Now Available in 165 and 330 lbs...
Gorbel has expanded our line of G-Force® Q and iQ Intelligent Lifting Devices to include 2 new capacities. The Q and iQ design is now available in 165 and 330 lb (75 and 150 kg) capacities, in addition to the existing 660 lb (300 kg) capacity.

The new G-Force® Q and iQ 165, 330, and 660 units offer a wealth of new design elements and software features to improve both function and reliability.

Modular Design for Increased Flexibility: The new G-Force® Q and iQ units have a modular design, making them easier to add on functionality or change handle configurations to meet the changing needs of your application.

On-Board Diagnostics for Easier Maintenance: The new G-Force® has on-board diagnostics to help you keep your unit operating at peak performance. It even has Preventive Maintenance indicators, programmed to alert maintenance people when regular wear items like wire ropes need replacement, or when the unit is due for inspection.

New Operator Present Function: We replaced the operator present switch on the handle with a photo sensor, making the G-Force® more intuitive to operators.

New Handle Design: The new G-Force® Q and iQ comes with a new handle that is more ergonomic and features a standard LCD display that better communicates information, including operation modes, programming menus, fault codes, diagnostic information, and weight readout.

G360™ Electric/Air Swivel: The G360™ patented swivel assembly allows the handle of the G-Force® to rotate without twisting the coil cord in applications where the operator is continuously rotating the handle.

Gorbel New Product News--More to follow soon!

Are you looking for a Lighter Capacity Articulating Jib? Gorbel's New Pivot Pro™ (50-150 lb capacity) is Coming Soon!!

The Pivot Pro™ is an articulating Jib that is specifically designed for applications under 150 lbs. Our sealed tubes eliminate the need for festooning in vacuum applications. No more problems with festoon pile-up, plus you get greater travel and minimize the potential for reduced vacuum suction caused by kinked hoses.

Watch the blog for more upcoming news.

Applied Ergonomics Conference and Expo 2009 announced.

Applied Ergonomics Conference and Expo 2009
March 23-26
Grand Sierra Resort
Reno, Nev.

Cleveland Tramrail underruning crane solution

Industry: Innovative Manufacturer of Gas Compression Equipment

Application: Moving heavy product between two work bays.

The Problem:
Fork trucks have to enter a work area to move the product between bays causing risk to employee safety
Existing cranes prohibited us from hanging new cranes from the ceilings of the bays
The work process did not allow for free standing units in one of the bays
Solution: Our solution was to support the runways from the bottom of the existing crane rail in one bay, while installing cantilevered support columns in the second bay. The cantilevers allowed access to the area by the larger crane.

Why Tarca® Was The Smart Solution: This operation is now more efficient due to the availability of the new systems and the ability of the operator to transfer products from bay to bay instead of having to call a fork truck operator.

Ergonomics Highlights from the AIHce in Minneapolis

June 6, 2008
By Tom Albin



The AIHCE program (May 31-June 5, Minneapolis, MN) continued a tradition of including strong ergonomic content with a well-received pre-conference seminar (Making a Business Case for Ergonomics), two Personal Development Courses (Office Ergonomics and Heat Stress), nine sessions in the Technical Program, and numerous ergonomic product exhibitors.

The AIHA Ergonomics Committee meeting highlighted several accomplishments during the past year; these included an ergonomics guideline for use in conjunction with the ANSI/AIHA Z10 –2005 American National Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, ergonomic tip sheets and a manual materials handling bibliography.

On the show floor, a Liko/Hill Rom booth highlighting patient handling tools created a lot of buzz.

There was a good deal of discussion at the conference with regard to potential changes at OSHA and NIOSH after the election. The consensus opinion seemed to be that a Democratic administration would likely attempt a new ergonomic regulation or regulations, but that the success of any such proposals would be dependent on a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Speculation was that a patient-handling regulation might have the best chances of being passed. The timing of any such action or actions would depend on appointment of a Secretary of Labor and an OSHA Director, and would likely not occur until 2010. While there was a great deal of speculation on potential OSHA directors after the change in administration, no clear favorites emerged for either party.

OSHA and NIOSH budgets were also discussed and the consensus was that nothing much would happen until the new Congress is in session next year. Current administration proposals would see OSHA receive a minor increase of about $15 million; however, NIOSH’s budget would see a cut of about $100 million.

Press Release

Xtek, Inc. Announces the Acquisition of Bradley Lifting Corp. - Key to Xtek's Crane Product Offerings
Cincinnati, OH - Xtek, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Bradley Lifting Corp effective April 1, 2008. Bradley Lifting Corp. custom engineers and manufactures under the hook lifting devices for overhead cranes for a wide variety of industries including aluminum, automotive, steel, paper, and power generation.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) May 20, 2008 -- Xtek, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Bradley Lifting Corp effective April 1, 2008.

Bradley Lifting Corp. custom engineers and manufactures under the hook lifting devices for overhead cranes for a wide variety of industries including aluminum, automotive, steel, paper, and power generation.

Bradley has 40,000 square feet of manufacturing space at their headquarters in York, PA. With the addition of two authorized repair and reconditioning facilities in Cincinnati, OH & Hammond, IN, Bradley will be extending its ability to service and repair under the hook devices throughout the Midwest region.

With the addition of Bradley Lifting Corp, Xtek has added a key component to its crane product offerings which include gears, gearboxes, rope drums, crane wheels, brake wheels and sheave wheels.

Iceland in August? Here is an excuse.

Nordic Ergonomics Society Annual Conference

It is our great pleasure to announce that The 40th Nordic Ergonomics Society Annual Conference, NES 2008 will be held in Reykjavík, Iceland 11-13 August 2008.


At this traditional international conference where practitioners and researchers meet and discuss the latest ergonomics issues the theme will be “Ergonomics is a lifestyle”. We consider this an interesting topic in our fast changing environment and lifestyle. Facing the globalisation and fast changing technology in our everyday lives, we solve problems but are faced with others.


May I ask you to put this information on your home-page and to send the invitation to your local network in ergonomics?


More information to be found at www.nes 2008.is.


We look forward to seeing you in Iceland August 2008!


Best regards and thank you in advance.


Berglind Helgadóttir
Chairman of The Icelandic Ergonomics Society


Op 11-08-2008 om 09:30

The Perfect Employee--Need we say more?

Does it feel good?

Does It Feel Good?
How ergonomics affects household items By Rosemary Sadez FriedmannScripps Howard News Service

Leonardo DaVinci could be considered a forerunner in ergonomic design. Ergonomics. A big word. But in a nutshell it means everything relating to human psychology and physiology. It concerns the design of the physical environment to suit the human condition.

Remember Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing of the human figure? The one with the man standing inside a circle with his arms outstretched, with his fingertips touching the circle on the sides and his feet planted on the circle at the bottom. That drawing was made in response to a 15th-century Italian who said that the length of a man is equal to his width with his arms extended. From that theory, we've created a total science called anthropometry, and it is from there that ergonomics was conceived.
Big deal? Yes. Through this study, the chairs in which we sit, the cupboards into which we reach and every product we use are made for the comfort of the user. Or at least that's what this science is striving to accomplish.
Things like how tall a dining table should be in conjunction to the height of the chair seat are the benefits we draw from this science. If your dining table is 29 inches tall, for example, the chair seat should be 18 inches. If the game table height is 27 inches, then the chair seat should be 16 inches high.
Most sofa seats are 16 inches off the floor. But if you have a hard time getting up and out of a regular couch, you might consider not only a firmer cushion but also a taller seat.
Let's go back to the dining table. The minimum width a person needs for comfort is 24 inches. If you can afford 30 inches, you get more elbowroom, which will come in especially handy if you're a southpaw.
When sitting in the chairs, your body and the chair will take up only 18 to 24 inches of depth, measuring from the table out. But that will give you only sitting space; allow 30 to 36 inches total clearance to get in and out of the chair with ease.
Here are a few dimensions for the bedroom that might be good to know before purchasing furniture:
Optimal space from the edge of the dresser and the edge of the bed is 42 to 48 inches. With this much room a person can easily open the drawers. If 48 inches isn't available, you can squeeze by with a minimum of 30 to 36 inches.
To get around the bed and change the sheets, there should be at least 24 inches from the side of the bed to the wall. Twelve inches will work if you can suck in that gut long enough to make the bed.
With all of that in mind, you can plan your space and space your plan and remain confident there's enough room to include you.
(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, Fla.)

Poor Ergonomics Are Bad For Business

Poor Ergonomics are Bad for BusinessPart 1 of a special five-part series. -->
Jonny Evans, Macworld.co.uk
Sunday, June 08, 2008 7:00 AM PDT

Please Wait...
Work-related RSI cases are at an all-time high and the cost to businesses is spiraling, new Microsoft research reveals.
Repetitive strain injury cases have soared by over 30 percent in the last year, costing businesses over US$600 in lost working hours and causing pain and debilitating discomfort to over-worked staff.
Microsoft claims the rapidly emerging trend of 'mobile working' -- with office-based employees now working on the move for an average of an hour more per day than they did two years ago using laptops and mobile devices -- is behind this alarming climb in work-related injury.
The company arrived at its conclusions in a poll among over 1,000 office workers, HR managers and office managers. This showed rthat 68 percent of office workers suffered from aches and pains, with the most common symptoms including back ache, shoulder pain and wrist/hand pain.
While advances in technology and increasingly demanding workloads have seen a growing trend for staff to work even when not in the office, the report finds a worrying lack of knowledge about the risks.
The findings also show that among office staff suffering symptoms of RSI, nearly a third of them did not associate this with anything work-related and did not report anything to their management. Indeed, of all HR managers surveyed, 76 percent were not aware of the high risk of RSI themselves and 68 percent did nothing when employees reported problems.
The research suggests that one of the main factors behind the high number of injuries is because not enough companies are replacing their existing office equipment with ergonomic hardware that can significantly reduce the risk of RSI.
To add insult to injury, less than half of U.K. workplaces have an ergonomic hardware programme in place and nearly a quarter of workers are not aware if their company even has one.
Experts recommend a number of ergonomic solutions for workers who use desktops and laptops on a daily basis which will dramatically reduce the number of injuries quickly and cost effectively. These include an ergonomic articulating keyboard, monitor arms, footrests, copy holders, ergonomic mice, laptop holders and ergonomic chairs.
John Allen, Managing Consultant at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) believes there is much more employers can do to minimise the risk: "We are shocked that this research indicates that the number of office injuries is on the increase due to companies not taking the right actions in investing in their staff's well being. This issue needs to be addressed and companies should start assessing the risks and investing in ergonomic solutions where they are needed

Crane operator training

We are often asked about overhead crane operator required training and would like to pass this information that is provided by NCCO (read about them below)





Overhead Crane Operator Written Examination Practical Examination How Do I Test?
ELIGIBILITY
Requirements for certification include the following:
Be at least 18 years of age
Meet Physical Requirements
Comply with CCO's Substance Abuse Policy
Pass Written Examination
Pass Practical Examination - Candidates must pass the Written and corresponding Practical examination within a twelve month timeframe.
Comply with the Code of Ethics
EXPERIENCE
CCO certification examinations are designed for operators who are trained and who currently work in crane operation.
Crane-related experience is defined as: operation, maintenance, inspection or training.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must comply with ASME B30.2 physical requirements throughout their certification period and attest to their agreement to this requirement in their application.
Means od compliance with ASME physical requirements include, but are not limited to the following:
CCO Physical Examination Form (valid for three (3) years)
A current DOT (department of Transportation) Medical Examiner's Certificate (valid for two (2) years)
CCO WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
The Overhead Crane Written Examination consists of a single examination in Overhead Crane operation. This examination has 60 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are allowed 60 minutes to complete the Overhead Crane Written Examination. Candidates meeting the eligibility requirements may take the Written or Practical Examination i any order.
CCO PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS
The CCO Practical Examination demonstrating crane operator proficiency is available in either of the following Overhead Crane types:
Cab Operated
Pendant/Remote Control
A candidate must pass both the Written and Practical examinations in order to be certified for a five (5) year period.
CCO CERTIFICATION TIME FRAMES
Candidates must pass a written exam and a practical exam in the category they wish to be certified in. Candidates have 12 months after they pass their first exam (written or practical) in which to take the corresponding written or practical exam in the same category. Candidates may take their exams in any order. For example, a candidate passing the written Overhead Crane exam has 12 months to pass the Overhead Crane practical exam.
Candidates who do not take and pass both he written and practical exams within a 12 month timeframe will be required to start the certification process again from the beginning.
If a candidate subsequently becomes certified in additional categories, the five-year certification period for additional categories begins at the same time as he/she was originally certified, i.e., all categories expire on the same date regardless of when in the five-year certification period the candidate passed them.
RECERTIFICATION
CCO certification is valid for five (5) years. Candidates must complete all of their recertification requirements during the 12 months prior to their expiration date. This includes:
Passing the Written Recertification Examinations
Continuing to meet Physical Requirements
Compliance with CCO's Substance Abuse Policy
Compliance with the Code of Ethics
Candidates who can document at least 1,000 hours crane-related experience during their period of certification, do not need to take the practical examination to recertify. However, candidates who do need to take the Practical examination must do so before their certification expires. There is no "grace period" after the date of expiration. Candidates whose certification has lapsed must take the full Written and Practical examinations over again in order to be re certified.
Recertification Candidates are allowed two (2) attempts to pass the Written Recertification examination prior to their date of expiration. Candidates who are unsuccessful after two (2) attempts must take and pass the regular Overhead Crane Written examinations.
Certified candidates may take their recertification examinations up to one (1) year prior to their date of expiration. Regardless of the date of the recertification examination within that one year period, the new five-year certification period begins from the date of expiration of the candidate's initial certification.
[Note: Candidates who recertify more than 12 months prior to their expiration date will have their new expiration period begin immediately, not from the end of their current certification period.]
Recertification examinations are available at regularly scheduled test administrations. Candidates wishing to recertify should contact the test site coordinator who set up the initial certification. Candidates whose employment circumstances have changed should ask their new employer to schedule a test administration.
Candidates may add Certifications (such as Mobile or Tower) at the same time they take their recertification examinations by taking the full examination for that certification.
For more information about recertification, please contact CCO's Recertification Department at (703) 560-2391 or via email at mailto:info@nccco.org
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
CCO’s Ethics and Discipline Committee is responsible for establishing and implementing standards of conduct, such as ethical standards, policies and procedures for disciplinary action. Grounds for revocation of certification status shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Period of certification exceeded without renewa
Evidence of falsification of any information on any documents submitted to CCO or its agents.
Evidence of non-compliance with ASME B30 medical requirements.
Evidence of non-compliance with CCO’s Substance Abuse Policy.
Evidence of culpability in an accident during certification period.
Evidence of non-compliance with the Code of Ethics.
Certified Operators who wish to appeal a decision regarding revocation of their operators status, must do so in writing stating the grounds for the appeal. This should be addressed to:
Executive Director
National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)2750 Prosperity AvenueSuite 505Fairfax, VA 22031
NCCCO has established policies and procedures to fairly and consistently address alleged violations of the Code of Ethics. The complaints procedures have been designed to ensure that only valid and actionable complaints are investigated and considered, and that all parties involved in the complaint have an opportunity to document circumstances warranting the complaint, and to respond to the complaint.
NCCCO has a two-tier process to ensure that issues regarding the practice and conduct of certified crane operators are fairly and reasonably investigated and determined, and that the public is protected against unprofessional and unethical conduct by certificants. Complaints against certificants are initially investigated by NCCCO’s Manager of Test Integrity who reports to NCCCO’s Ethics and Discipline Committee. If the complaint is considered actionable, the Ethics and Discipline Committee informs both the certificant and the complainant of the official opening of the investigation.
Following the investigation of the complaint, the Ethics and Discipline Committee informs the certificant and the complainant of its decision. If a sanction is imposed, the certificant may request an appeal of the decision to the NCCCO Board of Directors. The decision of the NCCCO Board of Directors is final.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY
It is the policy of CCO that crane operators shall not use a prescribed or over-the-counter substance which would impair the ability to operate cranes safely.
This includes illegal drugs, controlled substances (including trace amounts), look-alike drugs, designer drugs, or any other substance which may have an effect on the human body of being a narcotic, depressant, stimulant or hallucinogen.
An exception to this rule is that an operator may use such a substance or drug if it is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner who is familiar with the operator's medical history and all assigned duties, and who has advised the operator that the prescribed substance or drug will not adversely affect the operator's ability to safely operate an Overhead crane.
CCO-certified crane operators shall comply with the substance abuse testing provisions of ASME B30.2.
It is a condition of certification that crane operators certified by CCO attest to their compliance with this Substance Abuse Policy. Non-compliance with this policy automatically revokes a candidate's certification status.
CERTIFICATION CARDS
Certified operators receive a laminated photo ID card at no cost when they certify for the first time and when they complete the requirements for recertification.
A certified operator may only hold one certification card at a time. If a candidate previously certified in Mobile and/or Tower Cranes and subsequently becomes certified in Overhead Cranes (s)he may request an updated certification card.
Updated or replacement cards may be obtained from International Assessment Institute (IAI) at a cost of $25.00. To order, contact Jennifer at mailto:jennifer.warner@iaiexam.com%20 or 727-449-8525.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If a candidate changes their address they must notify CCO as soon as possible. Failure to do so may cause candidates to miss important updates on the CCO program that could affect their certification.
Changes of address should be sent to IAI. They must be in writing, but can be sent via letter or fax. A form is provided for this purpose in the Candidate Handbook. Forms can be faxed to 727-461-2746 or mailed to:
International Assessment Institute
600 Cleveland St, Suite 900
Clearwater, FL 33755
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators gratefully recognizes the sponsors of the Overhead Crane Operator Certification Program:
Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA)
American Crane & Equipment Corp.
Demag Cranes & Components
KCI Konecranes
Morris Material Handling
OMI Hoist & Crane
Virginia Crane (Foley Material Handling)
ACE World Companies
Capco Crane & Hoist

The NCCCO Mission
NCCCO was formed in January 1995 as a non-profit organization to develop effective performance standards for safe crane operation to assist all segments of general industry and construction.
By providing a thorough, independent assessment of operator knowledge and skills, NCCCO aims to enhance lifting equipment safety, reduce workplace risk, improve performance records, stimulate training, and give due recognition to the professional skill of crane operation.
The establishment of NCCCO was the culmination of almost 10 years continuous work by representatives of all industries that use cranes. In essence, the NCCCO program was developed by industry for industry, and continues to be supported by it.
This diversity continues to be reflected through NCCCO's Commissioners and Board of Directors who represent such groups as: contractors, labor unions, rental firms, owners, government, regulatory and standards-setting agencies, steel erectors, manufacturers, equipment distributors, construction firms, training consultants, and insurance companies.
The wealth of crane knowledge these experts have brought to this effort has been coupled with the psychometric expertise of one of the nation's most prestigious credentialing organizations, International Assessment Institute (IAI). IAI played a crucial role in the development of the NCCCO program and continues to assist in the administration and further development of NCCCO written and practical examinations.
This combination of crane-related experience and exam development knowledge has been supplemented with input from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the ANSI/ASME committees that developed and revise the B30 crane standard. The result is a sound, valid and effective test of an operator's proficiency.
Clearly, everyone-employers, operators, and the general public-has much to gain from ensuring only qualified people operate cranes. You’ll find much more information about the NCCCO program on this web site, but if you have any other questions at any time, do not hesitate to contact us.

RSI's hit an all time high

Repetitive strain injuries at all-time high, research finds
Thursday 5th June 2008

Work-related repetitive strain injury (RSI) cases are at an all-time high and the cost to businesses is spiralling, according to research from Microsoft.According to the corporation’s figures, RSI cases have soared by more than 30% in the last year, costing businesses more than £300m in lost working hours.The research, which polled more than 1,000 office workers, HR managers and office managers, reveals that 68% of office workers suffered from aches and pains, with the most common symptoms including back ache, shoulder pain and wrist/hand pain.The research found that those working for smaller companies are most at risk.The findings also show that nearly a third of office staff suffering from RSI did not associate this with anything work-related and did not report anything to their management.Of all HR managers surveyed, 76% were unaware of the high risk of RSI themselves, and 68% did nothing when employees reported problems.John Allen, Managing Consultant at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), believes there is much more employers can do to minimise the risk."We are shocked that this research indicates that the number of office injuries is on the increase due to companies not taking the right actions in investing in their staff's wellbeing”, he said.Experts recommend a number of ergonomic solutions for workers, including an articulating keyboard, monitor arms, footrests, ergonomic mice, laptop holders and ergonomic chairs.Mr Allen said: “This issue needs to be addressed and companies should start assessing the risks and investing in ergonomic solutions where they are needed."Microsoft

BlackBerries Can Be a Pain

BlackBerries Can Be a Pain
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 9:23 AMBy: Sylvia Booth Hubbard

You may complain that the small keyboard on your BlackBerry is a pain to use, but that tidal wave of e-mails you constantly send may be triggering real pain that doctors have dubbed “BlackBerry thumb.”
The numbers of people using text messaging and the numbers of messages they send have skyrocketed over the past few years. By 2007, 40% of all cell phone users used their texting feature with the average user sending 188 text messages each month.
According to Alan Hedge, an ergonomics specialist at Cornell University in New York state, BlackBerry thumb is caused by "highly repetitive, forceful thumb movements with the thumbs held back from the palms." Any hand-held device with a keyboard for messaging, such as a cell phone, can cause the malady if overused.
Symptoms include pain in the thumb and in the area around the base of the thumb and hand. Experts suggest you can avoid BlackBerry thumb by using it less, and when you do, hold the device close to your body and type for no more than five minutes before taking a break.
Treatment for BlackBerry thumb includes wearing a splint, injecting the area with cortisone, and even surgery. “If you’re getting some soreness in your thumbs, you’re probably over-doing it,” said Dr. Dave Alexander of Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. “If you are getting catching in your thumb, you probably should see a hand specialist, and maybe seek some treatment before it gets bad.”

Press Release Humantech

Press Release
Humantech, Inc.Release date: May 22, 2008
Increase Productivity and Accelerate Health and Safety Excellence with Fall Ergonomics Seminar SeriesMay 22, 2008ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Humantech, Inc. has announced the fall schedule of its popular series of ergonomics seminars. Health and safety staff, engineers, facilities managers, lean manufacturing champions, and ergonomics committees can learn to maximize the benefits of an ergonomics process from Humantech's experienced, board certified ergonomists. The fall 2008 seminar schedule covers such topics as industrial ergonomics, office ergonomics, and leveraging ergonomics in lean manufacturing. Seminars will be offered at Humantech's Ann Arbor, Mich. corporate training center; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Orange, Calif.; and Chicago, Ill.According to Walt Rostykus, Board Certified Professional Ergonomist and vice president of Humantech, "Our hands-on, straightforward approach will arm participants with the knowledge and skills they need to make immediate, simple, and effective human performance improvements within their own organizations." Participants will be able to apply tools and techniques to make an impact on their health and safety metrics through an effective ergonomics program.Applied Industrial Ergonomics will be held in Ann Arbor, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orange, and Chicago. This two-day seminar focuses on practical approaches to improving problem jobs, increasing productivity, and reducing injuries in an industrial environment. Attendees will learn to evaluate workstations and equipment, identify factors contributing to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and prioritize ergonomic improvements to maximize return on investment.Applied Office Ergonomics, a one-day seminar offered in Ann Arbor, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Orange, focuses on achieving a comfortable, healthy, and productive office environment. The goal of the course is to provide participants with the tools, knowledge, and resources to achieve dramatic improvements in office productivity and health and safety through ergonomics.The one-day Leveraging Ergonomics in Your Lean Initiative seminar is intended for those who would like to incorporate ergonomics into the lean manufacturing process. It will provide a building block for an integrated lean/ergonomics process in its infancy stage, as well as amplify and accelerate currently successful ergonomics processes. This interactive workshop will allow attendees to take a customized plan for integrating their company's ergonomics tools into its existing lean process back to their work site. This seminar is being offered in conjunction with the Applied Industrial Ergonomics course in Ann Arbor and Chicago.Complete course agendas and online registration are available on Humantech's Web site (humantech.com/seminars), or by calling the seminar coordinator at (734) 663-3330, ext. 222. Humantech's courses have been approved for ABIH CM points and meet the requirements for BCSP COC credits.For nearly 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and our unique 30-Inch View(TM) where people, work, and environment intersect-we deliver practical solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we believe people make productivity happen. For more information about our portfolio of products and services or the 30-Inch View(TM), visit www.humantech.com.HUMANTECH'S FALL 2008 ERGONOMICS SEMINAR SCHEDULEoApplied Industrial Ergonomics (Two-Day Seminar)Ann Arbor, Mich. September 30 - October 1Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas October 7 - 8Orange, Calif. October 14 - 15Chicago, Ill. October 21 - 22Ann Arbor, Mich. November 11 - 12oApplied Office Ergonomics (One-Day Seminar)Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas October 9Orange, Calif. October 16Ann Arbor, Mich. November 13oLeveraging Ergonomics in Your Lean Initiative (One-Day Seminar)Ann Arbor, Mich. October 2Chicago, Ill. October 23Kelly Robertson Notar Marketing Communications Humantech, Inc 734.663.3330 x 132 www.humantech.com
Company Information:Name: Humantech, Inc.Address: 900 Victors Way, Suite 220City: Ann ArborState: MIZIP: 48108Country: USAPhone: 734-663-6707FAX: 734-663-7747http://www.humantech.com