Ergonomics Committee 

Mission

To provide a forum to advance the use of ergonomic principles in the practice of industrial hygiene and to exchange and disseminate to health professionals and the community ideas and information about ergonomics and human factors.

 

Goals and Objectives

Goal: Assemble, evaluate, and disseminate relevant information to occupational and environmental health professionals on man’s physiological and psychological capabilities to perform work.

Objective #1: Discuss and act upon human factors issues.

Strategies:

  • Designate specific members to track and report on identified issues.
  • Respond to AIHA Board requests to address specific issues.
  • Meet at the AIHce and at other times as appropriate.
  • Communicate plans and activities to other AIHA committees that may be affected or concerned.
  • Prepare relevant information for publication.
  • Solicit papers; organize sessions; and provide session arrangers, chairs, and monitors for the AIHce.

Objective #2: Provide education and training on human factors.

Strategies:

  • Develop new PDCs and keep existing PDCs up to date.
  • Sponsor or develop short courses and seminars.
  • Goal: Actively participate in identifying and responding to human factors issues.

Objective #3: Encourage industrial hygienists to identify and describe human factors problems.

Strategies:

  • Apply knowledge from physiology, experimental psychology, and anatomy to work utilizing equipment, tools, and procedures.
  • Advance the incorporation of the human factors approach in industrial hygiene degree programs and abbreviated courses.
  • Objective #4: Identify, evaluate, and comment on proposed legislation, regulations, and standards affecting human factors.

Strategies:

  • Participate in the development of standards and guidelines by organizations such as OSHA and NIOSH.
  • Develop and recommend positions to the AIHA Board.

 

Publications

  • Manual Material Handling
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders of the Hand and Wrist, An Ergonomics Guide
  • Physical Strength Assessment in Ergonomics, An Ergonomics Guide
  • Ergonomics: Regulations and Standards in the United States, Canada, and Europe (POD)