Ergonomics research is constantly finding new and useful information, but often this doesn't filter through to those of us who practice applied ergonomics and health and safety. With the volumes of research and the amount of guidance already out there, there is a risk that these important findings and messages are not adopted into [...]
Plonking ourselves down We are plonkers – most of us. We plonk ourselves down in chairs and don’t think too much about whether we need to make adjustments or whether the chair suits our body dimensions. One aspect of chair use that in my experience people are often less familiar with, and possibly don’t [...]
There is potential in ergonomics – and probably any scientific discipline – that so much research is done, and so many articles are published, that key ones can get lost in the noise. A paper I recently ‘rediscovered’ from Ergonomics in 2009 is a good example. An article By S M McGill, 'Evolving Ergonomics?' [...]
Homeworking is still on the increase – driven by increasing demands for a better work life balance, and many businesses looking to cut real estate costs by reducing the physical footprint of their office. Based on the statistics in a recent employment survey, 44% of UK staff now do some form of flexible [...]
A big workplace issue Headaches at work is an issue that comes up surprisingly often – not surprising given that headache disorders cost the UK an estimated £5 to £7 billion per year and 25 million working days lost (and those costs are just relating to diagnosed headache disorders, there is a huge additional [...]
The facts of life - birth, death, taxes - and mistakes! Errors, mistakes and violations play a key part in most workplace incidents. According to an SHP report, around 90% of incident reports indicate human failure is to blame. But what are the factors that underlie these errors and violations, and why do investigations [...]
Online DSE assessments and user training A properly set-up desk or workstation is a vital part of maintaining wellbeing at work. Good quality DSE (Display Screen Equipment) assessments are an essential tool for achieving this. We provide a service that's something a bit different. An online DSE computer workstation assessment with no sign up, [...]
On 1st September this year, BSI launched a new standard – BS ISO 27500 ‘The human-centred organisation – Rationale and general principles’. BS ISO 27500 is a high-level goal-setting standard and it sets out 7 key principles that characterize a human-centred organisation. The standard is aimed squarely at executive board members and senior management, [...]
A simple and easy to use tool for identifying the most optimal task/job rotations Task rotation as a musculoskeletal risk control measure is most effective when consecutive tasks don’t share the same risk factors. To help you plan and achieve this arrangement, the tool we have designed (link below) allows you to enter your [...]
This September HSE launched a much-anticipated new manual handling risk assessment tool – RAPP – Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling. Ever since the MAC (HSE's Manual Handling Assessment Chart) was launched some years ago, industry and Inspectors have been asking for something similar to cover pushing and pulling activities, now finally it has arrived. [...]
