Tim Pottorff, Principal, MSIE, CIE, ARM

With over twenty-five years of hands-on work experience in various industries, Tim’s experience in making improvements and finding solutions has made him a world recognized leader in the field of workplace ergonomics. His expertise in ergonomics has given him insight into the loss control issues of various industries, and allows him the opportunity to help customers reduce workers compensation injuries and illnesses and improve process and employee productivity.

While working for Zurich North America, Tim created and led the team tasked settling 3,000 Zurich headquarters (HQ) employees into workstations, at their new custom-designed facility in 2016. He also leveraged contributions from within Zurich and with external business partners and provided technical guidance to the HQ Project Team for the design, selection and procurement of new workstations for the new HQ.

Tim was a lead developer of the advanced ergonomics training course, “Applied Ergonomics”, and has provided this training course for a spectrum of customers world-wide. Those that benefited from this training include clients from the automotive, service, financial, aerospace, chemical, pharmaceutical, food (and a myriad of other) industries.

In the areas of practical engineering and administrative problem solving, Tim has provided solutions to over 100 client locations a year for over 23-years on a global basis, improving production operations and performance, and reducing exposures to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. His specialty areas include job task assessments, assisting customers in development of customized ergonomics programs, and training for engineers, supervisors and employees. Tim also provides office ergonomics assessments and training. His work has taken him to Asia, Australia, Eastern & Western Europe, and throughout North America.

In addition to his professional experiences, Tim has enjoyed volunteering in numerous positions that also relied on his strong team building and management skills for coordinating and motivating dozens of volunteers.

Tim uses his degrees in Industrial Engineering to help customers improve processes that improve quality, productivity, performance and profitability.

Professional Speaking Roles

2020  Ohio Safety Conference, Columbus, OH, What’s Going on With Ergonomics?

2019 Chicagoland Safety Conference, Naperville, IL, Building the Winnning Ergonomics Team (and Beyond)

2019 ErgoExpo, Las Vegas, NV, Ergonomics and Safety Compliance.

2019 Indiana Safety Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 28, Building the Winning Ergonomics Team!

2018 National Ergonomics Conference & Exposition, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, The Cal/OSHA Hotel Housekeeper Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program Standard…Are You Ready? & Baby Steps…26-Years of Ergonomics Improvements.

2018 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Atlanta, GA, How to Move 3000 People in 3-Weeks and Almost Live to Tell About It, & Using Business Metrics for Ergonomics Success

2017  Insurance Loss Control Association conference, October 16, 2017, Hoffman Estates, IL.

Selected to speak at the 2017 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Orlando, FL, Fifty-three Feet of Ergonomics for the Trucking Industry (jointly) and There’s More to it than Texting Thumb.

Presented at the 2016 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Orlando, FL, From Sit to Stand:  How we did it.

Presented at the 2015 National Ergonomics Conference & Exposition, Las Vegas, NV, Wrinkles are Bad, and Stand Up:  Piloting the Future.

Presented at the 2014 Applied Ergonomics Conference in Orlando, FL, Why Do My Hands Hurt? The Modern Maladies of Technological Progress.

Presented at the 2013 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Ergonomics Programs, the Missing Link.

Presented at the 2009 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Targeted Ergonomics Efforts.

Selected to speak at the 2008 Global Risk Engineering Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Soft Tissue Injury Prevention, The benefits of targeted risk improvement services.

Presented at the 2000 Global Risk Engineering Conference, Morschach, Switzerland, International Ergonomic legislation issues.

Member of the 2018 Applied Ergonomics Conference Program Committee.

Full member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers

Member of the Society of Casualty Safety Engineers

Member of the Insurance Loss Control Association

Speaker at the 2017 University of Illinois Chicago Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering Regional Conference.

Judge at the 2017 University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering Senior Design Project competition.

Committee & Fundraising Chair (2015-17) and Interim Pack Master (2017) Cub Scout Pack 3, West Dundee, IL.

2017 CHWC Memphis Teen Mission Trip Adult Chaperone.

Presented at the 2013 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Ergonomics Programs, the Missing Link.

Presented at the 2009 Applied Ergonomics Conference, Targeted Ergonomics Efforts.

Selected to speak at the 2008 Global Risk Engineering Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Soft Tissue Injury Prevention, The benefits of targeted risk improvement services.

Presented at the 2000 Global Risk Engineering Conference, Morschach, Switzerland, International Ergonomic legislation issues.

Speaking Engagements

Have an event or conference coming up? ErgoSystems founder, Tim Pottorff, is an engaging speaker and expert on risk management.

Our Team of Experts are Ready to Help

Tim Pottorff, Ergonomist – Illinois

Andrew Concors, Ergonomist – California

Ann Hall – Kentucky

Ben Zavitz, Ergonomist – New England

Io Culjak, Ergonomist – Colorado

Merl Miller, Ergonomist – Arizona

Frank D’Agostino, Ergonomist and Multi-Lines Consultant – Florida and New York

Marjorie Werrell & Team, Ergonomics Consultants – District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, SE Pennsylvania

Susan Eppes, Safety and Ergonomics Consultant – District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, SE Pennsylvania

Dennis Reardon, Multi-Lines Consultant – llinois

Laurie Rudolph, Multi-Lines Consultant – Michigan

Tom Evangelisti, Multi-Lines Consultant – Colorado

Frank D’Agostino, Ergonomist and Multi-Lines Consultant – Florida and New York

Janice Turner, Industrial Hygienist – Illinois

Kimihiko Ogino, Industrial Hygienist & Safety Consultant – Japan

Mike Wielosinski, Industrial Hygienist – Illinois

Robin Coyne, Safety Consultant & Industrial Hygienist – Illinois

Tim was instrumental in providing a comprehensive ergonomic assessment at Dentply Manufacturing Plant. He provided a detailed report including recommendations to complex issues to make operation efficient & safe. Tim is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to work, and understands nuances in manufacturing as well as in business. He has an uncanny act of providing simple and practical solutions to the most complex problems. He has a passion for Safety, Ergonomics, and certainly goes beyond to help his client. He is an excellent business partner and truly understands the pain out of the customers and provides solutions to the customer.

Sarang Kortikar, LSSGB

Operation Executive
Tim was hired as the Ergonomist and spent many hours working to make jobs safer and healthier for employees. He is very personable and easy to work with, and very knowledgable in his areas of expertise. I highly recommend Tim to any business interested in improving safety/ergonomics processes.

Elizabeth A. Kovach-Hayes, CSP, Ed.D

Business Consultant
Tim is very knowledgable and an excellent presenter.

Greg OBrien

Global Director

“Integrating people, materials and equipment…
to make companies better!”™