14
Aug, 23
The use of hearing at work
Workers use hearing in a variety of ways, to make decisions in their jobs.
10
Jul, 23
What is an ergonomist, and what do they do?
(Prefer to “watch” instead of read? Here’s the video: https://youtu.be/43lk-BSmGmI) At the most basic level, an ergonomist (much like a lifeguard) gets paid to watch people. In our case, we watch people work. Of course, most ergonomists would be insulted at the insinuation that “watch” is all we do, but that’s what people see us […]
02
Jan, 23
In-person vs. virtual training: What’s the trade-off?
Our Physical and Cognitive Demands Analysis workshop will be running next week. In today’s age of virtual and online training, why would anyone travel to Cambridge to participate in an in-person workshop? Don’t get me wrong…I believe there’s also a place for virtual and online training, and we offer both. We have an excellent online […]
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 […]
21
Feb, 22
30 uses for a (good) PCDA
Physical and cognitive demands analyses (PCDAs) are most often used when workers are injured, but they have many other uses, as well. A PCDA is a very detailed summary of all of the efforts that a worker applies to complete a job. They are also known as PDAs, JDAs, and PDDs. “Efforts” might be physical, […]
What does the “mentor” contribute to an ergonomics internship?
Fanshawe College offers an Advanced Ergonomics Studies program, which includes an 8-week, unpaid internship. Because the interns are “free”, it’s tempting to “hire” one to come in and “do” ergonomics, under the supervision of a Safety or HR manager. The goal of the field placement is to provide real-life experience. Some placements do not offer […]
Answering tough questions: How Applied Ergonomics Research can Benefit your Company
Does your company see itself as “leading edge”? Is “R&D” built into your process? If so, are you applying this approach to ergonomics and strain/sprain injury prevention? Applied research allows you to examine information about specific problems within your company. Research can lead to better work processes, ergonomics awareness and skills, and innovation. As practitioners, […]
6 Reasons to Build a Library of PCDAs
What’s a library of physical and cognitive demands (PCDAs) worth? Many of our clients set out to complete PCDAs, also known in some organizations as Job Demands Analyses, or Physical Demands Descriptions, for all of their jobs. Some clients only complete them as needed. When or why would it be worthwhile to complete an entire […]