National Ergonomics Month - Consider the Workers

October 11, 2019

October is National Ergonomics Month

October is National Ergonomics Month! Here at the UC #Ergonomics Research Lab and Training Program, we want to remind you to consider the workers. Everything we use, eat, drive, ride-on, play-with, work-with and enjoy has been worked on by humans, but not all working conditions make those humans a top priority.

The meat processing industry is an example that is currently in the news. Matt McConnell, a researcher with Human Rights Watch tweeted: “Labels that say your meat was humanely raised don’t require companies to treat humanely the people who do the industry’s dirty, demanding, and dangerous work. A new #HRW report details how Trump admin policies threaten to worsen conditions. #SlowDownTheLine

At the UC Ergonomics Program we conduct research, train practitioners, educate researchers, and serve the workers in industry. Through research, education and community outreach, our aim to understand the mechanisms leading to Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs), then identify and evaluate equipment designs and work practices that reduce the risk of WRMSDs and contribute to the health and wellbeing of workers, while optimizing their performance.

Whether you are celebrating National Ergonomics Month by attending the 63rd annual international meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Meeting in Seattle Washington or just finally making some improvements to your home office, take a moment to remember what ergonomics is all about: Human centered design. It not only improves conditions for the workers, but it benefits business too.

Ergonomics Diagram