I have been seeing a lot of people online who have been trying to “help” new work-at-home employees set up their workstations. While I know these people mean well, I have seen some graphics that do not present good office workstation ergonomics, and which can actually make you feel (and look) worse. Good posture means…
Picture in your mind the 1952 episode of “I Love Lucy,” when Lucy and her pal Ethel took jobs at a chocolate factory. Not only was the packaging conveyor line “machine paced,” it was (as part of the skit) unpredictable. Ultimately the stress and pressure brought about by the machine pacing and unpredictability proved hilariously…
A Risk Assessment Matrix is a method for companies to assess the anticipated frequency and severity of incidents (risks) to a system, process, facility, or group of people, then graphically present those risks. The graphical representation allows risk management professionals to see how addressing the potential severity or frequency of incidents will impact their placement,…
What is Cal/OSHA? A few weeks ago, someone posed the question, “What is Cal/OSHA?” My initial reaction was, “Doesn’t everyone know that?” Then I thought about it, and it can be confusing. There’s OSHA (Federal,) MIOSHA (Michigan), IOSHA (Indiana), Cal/OSHA, and 19 other state programs. So, what does that all mean? Just what is OSHA,…
We often hear about “Risk Assessments,” but what are they, actually? Why are they important? And why should they be completed independently? A Risk Assessment is a formal process that is used to identify hazards and risk factors that can have a negative impact on a business, operations, people and the environment. This can be…
As 2020 begins, several communities in California have implemented.new laws that limit the number of square feet a housekeeper may clean during a shift. For properties in Santa Monica with fewer than 40 guest rooms, housekeepers are limited to cleaning 4,000 square feet of rooms/shift, and for properties with more than 40 guest rooms, housekeepers…
Many times I run across companies that “don’t have the budget” for the Ergonomics or Safety Services that they need. Actually, if they do not have the budget for Ergonomics and Safety Services, they probably cannot afford NOT to invest in them. Why? If you are a hotel GM and a $6,000 investment in assessment…
During my nearly 30-years as a practicing Ergonomist, I have performed thousands and thousands of office workstation assessments and encountered many unique, interesting, and frustrating situations. I was an undergraduate student in Industrial Engineering when the “kneeling chair” became popular. The problem with it was that due to the position of the lower legs being…
In 1992 when I accepted my first Ergonomist position at Alcoa’s Warrick Operations in Southern Indiana, who knew I’d be following in the footsteps of a giant? During my time there, and in very short order, I was able to apply lessons learned by Frederick Taylor nearly 100-years prior! Here’s an excerpt from my March…
Click on this link to download Tim’s latest article in the Contact Center Pipeline newsletter! “If the workstation is not optimal and the criteria of good work design are not met, then the stress on the body from an improperly designed workspace (or improper work habits) can lead to serious issues.”