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Archive for the ‘Training and Assessment’ Category
- New assessment and training programme addresses needs of lab workers
- Cardinus partners with leading laboratory ergonomics expert
CARDINUS Risk Management has created an ergonomics risk management and training programme that has been designed especially for laboratory workers.
The company has drawn on its enormous experience of ergonomics and display screen equipment (DSE) training to create the new product. Its award-winning Workstation Safety Plus has been leading the market for more than 12 years.
The new Cardinus programme for laboratory workers, Laboratory Ergonomics Plus has been produced under the expert guidance of Andrew Nicholson, BSC (Hons), MIEHF, CMIOSH, managing director of Axis Ergonomics Ltd and a principal consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of ergonomics and occupational health and safety.
Jon Abbott, managing director – ergonomics and safety at Cardinus Risk Management, said, “Laboratory workers are exposed to an astonishing number of ergonomic risks. While laboratories have undergone significant investment to make them more productive, the environment, equipment and working practices in a laboratory create very specific problems for workers’ health. I believe laboratories need a dedicated programme designed to deal with the specific challenges of laboratory work, Laboratory Ergonomics Plus fulfils that need.”
“Working with Andrew Nicholson has been a very rewarding experience. His knowledge and advice in the area of laboratory ergonomics have been invaluable. Cardinus customers can now enjoy the benefits of our combined knowledge as we continue to work with Andrew to deliver the service.”
Laboratories differ from typical work and DSE environments in a number of ways. Staff often use stools to sit at workbenches. They are required to use microscopes and other specialist optical equipment. Hazardous materials may require the use of enclosures or protective clothing and environments are often very carefully controlled. All of these challenges and many more have been considered in the design of Laboratory Ergonomics Plus from Cardinus.
- Ergonomic products supplier will offer Cardinus risk assessment and training
- Cardinus and Osmond are in tune with shared values and complementary products and services
CARDINUS Risk Management has formed an alliance with ergonomic products supplier Osmond Ergonomics that will bring benefits to customers of both companies.
Osmond will be introducing its customers to Cardinus e-learning, risk assessment, risk management and training services. The combination of complementary products and services provides a comprehensive solution to all ergonomics challenges.
Jon Abbott, managing director – ergonomics and safety at Cardinus Risk Management, said, “We are delighted to be working with Osmond Ergonomics. Our organisations share similar values in best practice and customer service, so working together we offer customers a compelling proposition.”
Osmond Ergonomics supplies office, industrial and laboratory seating, adjustable desks with electric (sit-stand) or manual height adjustment, storage and reception furniture along with a huge range of computer, desktop and lighting accessories.
- Cardinus Risk Management team will show conference and exhibition visitors how effective risk management can save money and improve productivity
- March 15-16 event at ExCel London will be ‘biggest and best conference to date’
VISITORS to this year’s IOSH conference and exhibition will see first hand how award-winning risk management products from Cardinus can reduce their health and safety costs, increase productivity and improve staff morale.
Cardinus Risk Management professionals will be on the Cardinus stand at DEF15, providing free consultations and advice to visitors. There will be demonstrations of Cardinus products and systems throughout the event, which takes place at ExCel London on March 15 and 16, 2011.
Using ergonomics to beat the downturn economy
If you asked a room full of British newspaper journalists, “what is the opposite of fun and adventure?” I bet most of them would say “health and safety”.
This can be quite depressing for the health and safety professional, whose main objective is to prevent workplace injuries and allow employees to continue to enjoy fun and adventure for many years to come.
I think it’s ironic that one of our leading driver trainers spends his weekends driving a racing car and that a Cardinus ergonomics consultant is a keen climber. We have seen cases where poor health and safety at work has led to people denied these pleasures for the rest of their lives. At Cardinus we believe health and safety supports fun and adventure.
Virgin Atlantic even makes the safety briefing sexy!
The unfortunate consequence of the stories written by that room full of journalists is that they undermine some of the impressive benefits a well-managed health and safety programme can bring. Companies with a positive attitude to health and safety tend to have a highly motivated workforce and they are more likely to be healthier. Health, motivation and positivity contribute enormously to fun and adventure.
Every good executive will tell you that they also contribute enormously to profit.
A comfortable employee will be much more productive that one who is in pain or fatigued. They will make fewer mistakes and take less sickness absence. Ergonomics can not only avoid costly injuries and court cases, but also can increase productivity and add real shareholder value. The same arguments can be made for good occupational road risk, manual handling, environmental programmes, too. In today’s financial climate safe, healthy, comfortable employees could be the difference between a positive balance sheet and a negative one.
The real opposite of ‘fun’ and ‘adventure’
Injury, discomfort and ill health are the true enemies of freedom and enjoyment, and we do see evidence of this kind of suffering in the workplace. It’s the goal of health and safety professionals like Cardinus to minimise or remove these risks.
There are, unfortunately, many risks associated with computer use, including work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) and musculoskeletal injuries.
WRULDs are soft tissue injuries that affect the muscles, tendons and nerves of the hands, arms, shoulders and neck. Musculoskeletal injuries are disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues of the body. The disorders may develop over time as the result of cumulative repetitive stress or awkward movements that wear down the musculoskeletal system.
These conditions are not new. Throughout history a variety of conditions have been associated with occupations that require long bouts of repetitive movements. Some are well known: tennis elbow and writer’s cramp, for example. But what about housemaid’s knee, trigger finger and dog handler’s elbow? These conditions still affect today’s workplaces.
The same technology that helps us to work more efficiently, smarter and more quickly is to blame. When we used old-fashioned typewriters, we took regular micro-breaks to return the carriage every few seconds. This relieved the strain of repetition just enough, but the action has disappeared thanks to computers.
Telephones gave us the ability to communicate without walking to our colleagues in the next room or just across the floor; email has exacerbated this. Nowadays instant messaging means we don’t even have to speak to our colleagues on the next desk. The result is an increase in discomfort and a greater risk of ergonomic injuries.
- Outsourcing of H&S provision will continue to grow
- Companies will start to see cost savings and cost avoidance if out sourcing is managed properly
CARDINUS Risk Management has revealed its health and safety predictions for the new year with a warning to companies outsourcing their H&S provision.
According to a senior Cardinus executive, there are risks involved with outsourcing health and safety and getting it wrong could mean long term reputational damage.
Jon Abbott, managing director of ergonomics and safety at Cardinus, said, “With the economy continuing to flounder, more organisations will begin to outsource their H&S provision. This can be a dangerous approach if not properly thought through. Issues that are not considered high-risk may not get the attention they need, so accidents may happen because companies have taken their eye off the ball. Any damage to a company’s reputation caused in the short term could take years to mend.
“Companies that outsource for compliance reasons forget about the positive effects of health and safety. All the behaviour change cost savings, cost avoidance and productivity improvements may be lost as a result of a poorly-managed outsourcing programme.”
Companies considering the decision to outsource their health and safety provision should look to established companies with proven expertise and a trusted reputation. For more information about Cardinus Risk Management and its wide range of products and services, call 020 7469 0200, email info@cardinus.com or visit www.cardinus.com.
– ENDS –
Cardinus directors, experts and consultants are available for interview and quotes on industry issues. The full range of Cardinus consultancy services can be seen on its website, www.cardinus.com or you can telephone 0207 469 0200 (UK) 1-866-966-3420 (US).
About Cardinus
Cardinus is a member company of THB Group plc and provides online injury reduction solutions and risk management within the safety, fleet and property sectors.
Established in 1995, Cardinus has an enviable track record of working with government and leading blue chip organizations. Cardinus provides solutions to customers across the United Kingdom, the US and worldwide. Solutions include ‘Workstation Safety Plus’ a software solution designed to reduce the risks associated with using DSE and ergonomics; a comprehensive fleet risk solution that combines in-vehicle driver training with online self-assessment; property solutions including fire risk surveys, asbestos assessment and a range of e-learning courses. Cardinus Environmental provides a range of services, including Environmental Essentials.
Cardinus Risk Management Limited, Phoenix House, Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3BE. Cardinus Risk Management Limited, 10 Flag Business Exchange, Vicarage Farm Road, Peterborough, Cambs PE1 5SL. For further information please call Cardinus Risk Management Limited on 020 7469 0200 or email info@cardinus.com
The HSE is seeking views on a new online tool to help retailers assess the hazards in small low risk shops.
The tool, which is available for trial from now until March 2011, is part of the HSE’s response to Lord Young’s recent recommendation to reduce unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy in low risk workplaces.
“Shop managers are best placed to identify what happens in their premises,” said HSE chair Judith Hackitt, “and we want to enable them to have confidence to say that they have dealt with the risks that do exist.”
The new 20-minute tool makes it clear there is no need for long detailed documents covering minor and improbable risks.
But it will not replace specific risk assessments in higher hazard activities such as the sale or storage of chemicals or fireworks, or in outlets where machinery is operating.
The tool prompts users through a series of basic questions and then generates a risk assessment and action plan.
When local authority officers inspect retail outlets, they will be instructed to consider the assessments as evidence that employers have acted appropriately.
In October, the HSE launched a similar 20-minute tool for offices. This consultation is still open for comments until 7 January 2011.
Another tool aimed at classrooms is out to consultation until 4 February 2011.
Source: HSW
For more information from www.ergojournal.co.uk about workplace ergonomics, workplace health and safety, ergonomic chairs, ergonomic products, DSE risk assessment, ergonomics software solutions, click here to become a subscriber. Alternatively, Subscribe to ErgoJournal by Email and follow us on Twitter @Ergo_Journal
2011 National Ergonomics Expo Already Surpasses Size of 2010 Show with Record Exhibitor Renewal Rate
2010 ErgoExpo Attendees’ Choice Award Winners Include Contour Design, Herman Miller, Office Master & Workrite
The 2010 National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition (ErgoExpo) held at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas earlier this month was yet again the largest annual gathering of ergonomics decision makers and vendors in the nation. The event was a huge success, and by the last few hours of the show, the room still buzzing with activity, 97% of exhibit space had already been renewed for 2011. Since then, new exhibitors have joined the show, and as of today, the 2011 Expo is already larger than this year’s event was.
“We know we’re doing well when we reach our usual 90% exhibitor renewal rate by the end of the show. This year we obviously had our best ever! Exhibitors were clearly busy from the start until the finish of the event. Many renew prior to arriving in Las Vegas, they know they need to keep ErgoExpo on their show schedule every year, but the rest of them, including fist-time exhibitors and new companies that were just visiting the show have already reserved exhibit space for 2011,” remarked Walter Charnizon, President of Continental Exhibitions, Inc., owner/producers of ErgoExpo.
Attendees from 46 states and thirteen foreign countries including Australia, China, Denmark, the U.K., Norway and Venezuela were at ErgoExpo. Attendees represented organizations as diverse as Alcoa, Chevron, Ford, Hasbro Games, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, Merck, NASA, Pacific Gas & Electric, SC Johnson, The World Bank, every branch of the U.S. military, Zenith Insurance and many more. They attended sessions geared toward office, healthcare, industrial and other work environments.
Arturo Trejo, Safety Manager at E&J Gallo Winery commented, “I brought my entire team of line workers because we all need to learn from the experts. Our goal is to implement one or two ideas we pick up during the Conference. One good idea used back at work will cover the cost of the Conference and then some.” Jon Biggs, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kinesis Corporation was pleased to see a strong attendee turn out, “ErgoExpo is always an important event for us, but this year’s show surpassed all expectations! The show floor was packed from start to finish, and we met several new and important decision makers from some top-notch organizations.” Larry Bonasso, Management and Program Analyst with the FBI said, “This is an exceptional event. We are building a multi-million dollar facility and need to furnish it. We now have plans to meet with these vendors and try out their products. That’s what made the Expo so beneficial.”
In response to a high prevalence of neck and back pain among working dentists and dental hygienists, the dean of the University of Maryland Dental School Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, has launched an initiative to bring renewed attention to ergonomics into dental education.
Starting with the current semester, every incoming student must take the School’s course “Ergonomics in Dentistry,” before he or she can practice simulations or live-patient dental work. The School wants to be the place where dentists and dental hygienists learn to practice ergonomically correct practices, says Stohler.
“Three out of every five dentists live with the pain,” due to years of practicing with poor posture and other unwise positioning, guest lecturer Lance Rucker, DDS, director of clinical ergonomics and simulation at the University of British Columbia, told this year’s incoming class.
An integrated care program that incorporates workplace ergonomics appears to be a cost-effective alternative to usual care for individuals sick listed due to chronic low back pain, according to research published online Nov. 30 in BMJ.
An integrated care program that incorporates workplace ergonomics appears to be a cost-effective alternative to usual care for individuals sick listed due to chronic low back pain, according to research published online Nov. 30 in BMJ.
Ludeke C. Lambeek, of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues randomized 134 sick-listed adults with chronic low back pain to integrated care — consisting of a workplace intervention based on participatory ergonomics and a graded activity program based on cognitive behavioral principles — or usual care.
The researchers found that the cost of the integrated care program was significantly lower per participant than usual care, at £13,165 (standard deviation [SD] £13,600) versus £18,475 (SD £13,616). The integrated program was cost-effective in terms of return to work and quality-adjusted life-years gained, and there was an estimated return of £26 for every £1 invested in integrated care.
“Implementation of an integrated care program for patients sick listed with chronic low back pain has a large potential to significantly reduce societal costs, increase effectiveness of care, improve quality of life, and improve function on a broad scale. Integrated care therefore has large gains for patients and society as well as for employers,” the authors write.
Source: Doctors Lounge
For more information from www.ergojournal.co.uk about workplace ergonomics, workplace health and safety, ergonomic chairs, ergonomic products, DSE risk assessment, ergonomics software solutions, click here to become a subscriber. Alternatively, Subscribe to ErgoJournal by Email and follow us on Twitter @Ergo_Journal