Conference at-a-Glance
Topics and Presenters
General Information
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About the Sessions
March 28-29, 2005
Monday, March 28
8:30 a.m.
Welcome
Concurrent Sessions
9 a.m.-Noon: Risk Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and the Body
What is repetition? What is force? What is carpal tunnel syndrome? This session will teach you about risk factors, common work-related disorders, and the human body. You’ll learn how task-related risk factors affect the human body and the potential development of musculoskeletal disorders. You can use this information to learn how to do a basic risk analysis or modify work. This session is strongly suggested for those who wish to attend the session on Risk Factor Evaluation Tools.
Speakers: Donna Zecha, OTR/L, CHT, and Denise Finch, OTR/L, CHT, CCM. Donna Zecha, O.T.R., C.H.T., is a certified hand therapist for WorkRite Medical Associates and specializes in industrial rehabilitation and medical ergonomics, providing services to employers and injured workers. She has presented seminars on work injury prevention, CTDs, and ergonomics. Denise Finch, O.T.R., C.C.M., C.H.T., is founder of WorkRite Medical Associates and is a registered occupational therapist and certified hand therapist specializing in industrial rehabilitation. She has extensive experience in evaluating work sites and uses medical and ergonomic concepts to assist injured workers in returning to work.
9-11 a.m.: The Frugal Engineer: The Sequel
The frugal engineer returns once again this year by popular demand. Are you confronted with trying to make ends meet with little or no budget, and challenged with trying to make improvements to machine production, or involved in hand-intensive manufacturing processes? Then this session is for you. The frugal engineer combines rather unorthodox lean manufacturing production methods and ergonomic ideals. Frugal does not mean cheap, however. It is the best use of resources and materials available. Or mathematically: Problem + insight and no budget = increased productivity (? + ! + $0.00 = $$$ and sometimes $$$$). A number of new problems and improvements are presented with unique solutions based on “outside the industry thinking.” See how simple “frugal” improvements to production machines and hand tools make improvements to manufacturing operations.
Speaker: Leonard Walsh is an engineering fellow at Pratt and Whitney, East Hartford, Connecticut. His specialization includes engineering ergonomics and reliability centered maintenance. He is an instructor for Pratt and Whitney’s Engineering Technical University and regularly lectures other professionals on safety, ergonomics and maintenance systems. He has authored five technical publications and is an inventor with several patents.
11 a.m.-Noon: Improving Your Bottom Line through Ergonomic Design
This presentation will highlight ergonomic intervention controls that increase productivity, improve quality, and reduce injuries. Some organizations view ergonomics as a business expense instead of a source of internal income. When sound ergonomic principles are followed precisely, fatigue decreases and productivity increases. During this presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in an actual ergonomic intervention that demonstrates how the application of ergonomic principles improves productivity and quality, while reducing the risk of injury. You’ll also participate in hands-on demonstrations that highlight key points.
Speaker: Karl Siegfried, C.E.C.D., is the director of ergonomics at Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company and is also co-manager with NIOSH for the National Project, “Ergonomic Study of Maritime Industries.” He is also an adjunct professor of ergonomics at the University of Southern Maine, is a certified ergonomic compliance director, and has had training in ergonomics at the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Michigan, and NIOSH.
Lunch in the New England Center
1-3 p.m.: Risk Factor Evaluation Tools
A number of tools/forms exist to identify work-related risk factors. In this presentation, the UE Risk Factor Checklist and a second Risk Factor Screening Tool will be reviewed. Come see the video and practice using a screening tool! It is strongly suggested that those interested in attending this session also attend the morning session of Risk Factors, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and the Body.
Speakers: Denise Finch, OTR/L, CHT, CCM, and Donna Zecha, OTR/L, CHT (see bios above).
3-5 p.m.: Returning the Injured Employee to Work
Understanding restrictions and implementing return-to-work programs can be a challenge and requires practical application of concepts of risk at jobs and ergonomic abatements to protect the injured employee. This session will address the goals and application of return-to-work programs, how to modify work stations and work tasks, and how to transition the employee from limited to full duty. Difficult issues will be discussed and case studies presented.
Speaker: Susan Emerson, Med. OTR, CHT, CEES, and Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist, is owner/director of Rehab To Work Medical Consultants, specializing in ergonomic and safety programs, and industrial, worksite, and functional capacity evaluations and on-site management of the injured employee. She has extensive experience in treatment and rehabilitation of upper quarter work-related injuries, and has lectured nationally on all aspects of upper extremity management, particularly cumulative trauma and industrial management, and is published on issues of treatment for specific hand and upper extremity injuries, functional capacity evaluations, and workplace assessments.
1-3 p.m.: Workers’ Compensation Basics
This session offers a basic overview of the workers’ compensation system. You will learn about the existing laws and when and how to file the correct forms. Temporary alternative duty and basic case management will be discussed. Developing the communication process between your insurance carrier and the medical community will be explored, as well as learning who to contact when you need help.
Speaker: Frances LeFavour has 25 years experience in human resources. She is a member of the NH Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and the Anthem NH Advisory Board. She is vice chair of the Business & Industry Association’s HR Committee and the Safety& Health Council of NH.
3-4 p.m.: You and Your Loss Prevention Services
This session brings together a loss prevention specialist and an HR/Safety person to help you understand what is, or should be, available from your workers’ compensation carrier and their loss prevention services. You’ll learn what you should expect from your carrier in terms of training, education, videos, assessments, and resources. Find out how to get the most from your premium dollars and at what point you’ll need to hire an outside consultant.
Speakers: Frances LaFavour (see bio above) and Amy B. Gendreau. Amy Gendreau has worked as the occupational health and safety coordinator at UNH. Previously, she worked providing loss prevention services to clients at a leading provider of workers compensation insurance. She is currently a consultant working with state and federal government agencies and private compoanies to reduce the incidence of workplace innjuries.
4-5 p.m.: Compensation: An Attorney’s Point-of-View
This session will discuss current issues in workers’ compensation, with a particular focus on the state of the current law on cumulative trauma. You’ll also discuss new approaches to evaluating cumulative trauma in the workplace and presenting that approach to the Department of Labor.
Speaker: J. Kirk Trombley, Esq., is a trial attorney, whose practice includes workers’ compensation, insurance, liability, employment law matters, and maritime/admiralty law. He is the author of articles relating to workers’ compensation and maritime matters.
6 p.m.
7 p.m.
Dinner in the New England Center
Special Evening Presentation:
Identification and Mitigation of Risk Factors for the Aging Workforce
This session explores ergonomic risk factors associated with the burgeoning and aging baby boomer workforce. Aging brings wisdom, experience, and capability, but may also affect one’s abilities in the workplace. This session focuses on expected physiological changes to our bodies as “time marches on” and on how to maintain healthy and productive work. Speicifically, you will learn: what physiological changes occur during the aging process; what mitigation measures can be used to reduce its severity; and what measures can be taken to maintain productivity.
Speaker: John R. LaCourse, Ph.D., C.P.E., C.E.E.S., is a certified professional ergonomist and certified ergonomic evaluator specialist (RMA). He is professor of electrical engineering at UNH, chairman of UNH’s Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and director of UNH’s Biomedical Engineering Center. He specializes in ergonomic controls for CTDs and instrumentation for the detection of usable biological signals for control and/or diagnosis. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Hong Kong offering seminars, workshops, and engineering consultation.
Tuesday, March 29
8 a.m.-Noon: Ergonomic Computer Workstations--An Applied Approach
Poor workstation set-up, work methods, and postures are frequently cited issues for computer-related injuries. In this session computer workstation design recommendations will be covered along with practical solutions to improve existing workstations and reduce risk factors. Samples of innovative equipment, including alternative keyboards, will be available.
Speaker: Denise Finch, OTR, CCM, CHT (see bio above).
8-10 a.m.: Human Factors Engineering: Project 54
This talk will discuss the design of the Project 54 system as it relates to the visual components. The visual cockpit design will be explored first, leading to a discussion of the computer system interface. The System User Interface will be discussed as it pertains to the basic screen model as well as how application interfaces are molded into a common framework from an ergonomics point-of-view. The presentation will include design examples.
Speaker: William H. Lenharth, Ph.D., is the director of research computing at UNH and associate research professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has been the co-principle investigator for CATlab-Project 45, a multi-million dollar effort to design and deploy voice operated, fully integrated police cruisers. He is also the founder of the UNH Research Computing Center and Interoperability Lab which supports industrial research and serves as a training ground for graduate students in the fields of testing and network technology.
10 a.m.-Noon: The Tools of the Trade
To be credible when identifying ergonomic risk factors and their severity, certain tools can make your job more successful. This session will identify and demonstrate the most commonly used tools to accomplish this task. Area tools to be discussed and presented are the measurement of physical risk factors and environmental risk factors. Specifically covered will be the measurement tools for force, posture and motion, stress concentration, temperature, vibration, light, and torque.
Speaker: John R. LaCourse, Ph.D. (see bio above).
General Session:
Making Ergonomics an Integral Part of Daily Work Life
New concepts and ideas are often met with resistance because positive change can be just as stressful as negative change. It is common to enumerate the benefits of an initiative, but we must remember that with every gain there is a loss, whether in familiarity with process, or time. This will offer ways to introduce ergonomics in your organization, respond to employees’ concerns, and gain acceptance and support at all levels.
Speaker: Gerri King, Ph.D., a social psychologist and organizational consultant, works with corporate, industrial, educational, healthcare, non-profit and governmental clients throughout the United States and Asia. She is a founding partner of the 24-year-old consulting firm, Human Dynamics Associates, Inc., in Concord, NH.