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Global Ergonomics Month

A message from David Caple, IEA President:

"Global Ergonomics Month 2008

The IEA Council meeting in Iceland agreed for all Federated Societies to consider one or more activities during October to "outreach" and promote ergonomics to the community.

I seek your support for this activity in a way that is meaningful for your Society and community.

I include the suggestions provided to the IEA Development Committee Chair, Jan Dul, from Federated Societies who have already done this in past years. Detail of which Society has tried the action is also provided if you wish to communicate with them directly. These details are on the IEA website in the Members only section - Improvement of Visibility and Recognition

In general, the public at large has a limited notion what the field of ergonomics encompasses. This can be improved by enlarging public visibility and recognition.

How to support researchers and practitioners for their public visibility?

  • Work with local science museums and other business related professional organizations. (HFES)
  • Develop school visitation packages. (HFES)
  • Support members in writing articles on ergonomic success stories, particularly for the specialist press. (ES)
  • Organize seminars with invited speakers and try to get media attention. (NES)
  • Create relationship with the mass media, e.g. by establishing an outreach committee focusing on media and press writers and producers. (HFES, SIE)

How to receive recognition by national authorities or national pressure groups?

  • Be involved in actions which have public appeal, such as reducing MSD and other concerns which are very popular in the country. (ABERGO)
  • Develop media statements and processes to quickly respond to HFE related at the national level driven by lobbyists and others. (HFES)
  • Be active in standardization work, e.g. establish a standards committee, answer enquiries regarding proposed standards. (NES)

These are some suggestions for each federated Society to consider in October 2008 as a contribution to Global Ergonomics month."

Events

ITALY:

9 October - Work and Environment national convention, Modena
"SIE prize 2008: the best products for workers training on risks assessment and prevention"

25 October - Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Milan
"1968-2008 the first 40 years of Ergonomics in Italy", national convivial workshop to celebrate the 40th anniversay of our Society, with lecture and memories from all the living past president and key people of ergonomics in Italy (Sebastiano Bagnara, Francesco Novara, Lina Bonapace, Enrico Occhipinti, Riccardo Taraglia and more)

SWEDEN:

GEM related events in Sweden, October 2008

UNITED KINGDOM:

7-8 October, Manchester Conference Centre, UK
Conference theme: Sharing Good Practice
Following the success of the Human and Organisational Factors in the Oil, Gas and Chemical Industries conference in November 2007, we are pleased to announce the second event. The event will take place at the Manchester Conference Centre on 7th and 8th of October 2008.

6 November 2008
Conference theme: Workplace Stress, are you managing?
Hosted by: systemconcepts in the Strand, London 

Links

HFES' National Ergonomics Month
HFES' Ergonomics in the news page
Ergonomics 4 Schools
Healthy computing for young people
Learn how to keyboard on a laptop ergonomically
How to make your laptop workstation ERGONOMIC
FEES Eurpeon Month of Ergonomics
System Concepts World Usability Day 2008