Reducing Injuries from Manual Tasks - A Participative Ergonomics Approach

with support from the 
Tasmanian Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Providers
& the
Australian Association of Occupational Therapists (Tasmania)

Dr Gary Dennis BHSc (Hons) PhD

Tuesday 23 February 2010
Tailrace Centre, Waterfront Drive, Launceston

RSVP Pauline Pertel, HFESA Secretariat:  secretariat@ergonomics.org.au

Enquiries:  02 9680 9026  (Note:  the office will be closed from 23 December 09 to 19 January 2010).

Workshop Overview:

Around 40% of occupational injuries are associated with manual tasks.  The direct cost of these manual task related injuries in Australia is approximately $2b per year.  Whilst much effort has been focused on assessing the risks associated with manual tasks, too often these assessments forget three key ingredients to facilitate the implementation of effective control measures:

1. input from the workers performing the task
2. support from management and
3. an assessment tool that helps to focus the controls

This session will focus on the key ingredients required for a participative Ergonomics system to be effectively implemented in a workplace.  Particular attention will be given to the evaluation of manual task risk assessment tools and case studies where the Participative Ergonomics framework has been employed in various industries.

Learning Outcomes:

By attending this workshop you will:

• Understand the importance of the participative ergonomics approach
• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of Participative Ergonomics
• Be aware of the key elements required to effectively implement a Participative Ergonomics system in the workplace
• Discuss various Manual Tasks risk assessment tools and how appropriate they are to Participative Ergonomics
• Discuss the importance of the hierarchy of controls
• Learn how to facilitate the development of controls to ensure that they are effective

About the Presenter:

Dr Gary Dennis is a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) who is involved in both ergonomic research through his two ergonomics consulting companies ErgoEnterprises and ErgoSolutions.

He has held full time positions at both Griffith University and the University of Queensland, where he taught a variety of biomechanically related subjects, including:  Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Biophysics and Ergonomics.  He has also taught at the University of NSW.  Currently, he holds an adjunct appointment at the University of Queensland within the School of Human Movement Studies where he teaches primarily into the Ergonomics and Sports Coaching programmes.

Despite his commitment to academia, Gary's research has a long history of applied research in a variety of industries, particularly within the mining, transport and construction sectors.  As well as extensive collaborative academic research with Assoc Prof Robin Burgess-Limerick PhD CPE, he and Robin are also joint owners and Directors of ErgoEnterprises Pty Ltd, a company that exclusively focuses on the implementation of Participative Ergonomics systems within industry via its signature software based risk assessment, control development and database management system ErgoAnalyst©, whilst advanced biomechanical analysis and engineering design projects are undertaken through ErgoSolutions Pty Ltd, with a long list of clients in a wide variety of industrial sectors.

Places are limited, so register today

Please complete the attached registration form and email or fax it to the HFESA Secretariat - secretariat@ergonomics.org.au
Fax:  02 9680 9027

Early bird discounts close 19 January 2010