© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Grants and Awards

2011-2012

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

The Ergonomics Team Service Providers:

Suzanne Bade: MHealthy Medical Ergonomics

Sarah Cooney: OSEH

Laura Drabczyk: Dearborn

Jacqueline Eckert: UMHS/SMS

Pamela Koczman: OSEH

Michael Lane: Flint

Brenda Myers: UMHS/SMS

Laura Rometsch: Flint

Sydney Parmenter: Dearborn

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Goal Reduce risk factors related to

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Sprains, Strains, Pain

Back, Neck, Arm, Leg, Vision, Sensation

Issues/Risk Factors

Postures, Repetitive Movement/Sustained Postures,

Force, Contact Stress, Temperature, Vibration

Risk Reduction via

Personal Habits, Administrative Controls,

Engineering (Equipment)

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Website Self Help

Tutorials

Office, Laboratory, Material Handling,

Patient Care

Videos:

How to Adjust Specific Office Chairs

How to Adjust Specific Keyboard Trays

Ergo Tips to Print

Design Guidelines

Ergo Hero Individual Awards

Nominations FY 2012: TBA Ann Arbor: TBA

Dearborn: TBA

Flint: TBA

UMHHC: TBA

Typical Achievements:

Supervisors and administrators support of faculty

and staff needs for ergonomic improvements, and

employee initiation and use of ergonomic

improvements

© 2010 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Ergo Departmental Awards Plaques for Outstanding Contribution (2)

UMHHC - Radiology

AA - School of Public Health – Health Behavior and

Health Education

Certificate of Recognition (1)

UMHHC – Turner Geriatrics Silver Club Programs

Letter of Commendation (3)

UMHHC – Pathology – Mlabs

AA – School of Social Work

AA – College of Pharmacy

© 20011 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

UMHHC/Pathology - MLabs

Letter of Commendation

In recognition of your project to

reduce strains caused by sitting at

a desk for many hours each day by

providing sit/stand workstations for

your employees.

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

UMHHC/Radiology

Plaque for Outstanding Contribution - In recognition of

your project to reduce ergonomics risks by providing

sit/stand workstations to your employees while they are

reviewing diagnostic images throughout most of their

working day.

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

AA/School of Social Work

Letter of Commendation

In recognition of your project to

reduce strains caused by

sitting at a desk for many hours

each day by providing a

sit/stand workstation for your

employee.

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

AA/College of Pharmacy

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Letter of Commendation

In recognition of your utilizing

university ergonomic

resources to maximize the

working environment and

comfort for your employees.

AA/School of Public Health – Health

Behavior and Health Education

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Plaque for Outstanding Contribution - In recognition of your project to

alleviate the discomfort caused by repetitive and sustained postures

by implementing daily stretch breaks and supporting employees in

taking them. We applaud you for encouraging the use of self-help

strategies to improve comfort.

UMHHC/Turner Geriatric Silver

Club Programs

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Certificate of Recognition- The award is in recognition of your project to

reduce back injuries of staff by purchasing

lighter tables that are easily movable by its

casters.

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Ergo Grants Dept. annual competitive application process

Over $70,000 requested for 34 projects.

Funded 22 projects with $45,000 central fund,

Dept. cost sharing nearly doubles the impact.

Individuals with medical accommodation needs

$10,000 fund to cost share with departments

for medical ergonomics clients needing

significant equipment purchase to meet their

work and medical needs. Maximum offer of

$200 per client, and only if cost exceeds $400.

Offered $14,000 to serve 70 clients/depts.

AA/Civil & Environmental

Engineering

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Without having a scissor lift, the technicians

have had to contend with extremely heavy buckets of

cement which swing from the scaffolding causing injury

near misses. The scaffolding is also difficult to move to

maneuver and causes fatigue to repeatedly climb up and

down. Combine fatigue with anyone who has the slightest

fear of heights and we have more opportunity for near

misses. ”

After: “Increased

satisfaction due to having

the right tools for the job at

hand.”

U-M Flint/Office of the Registrar

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Fatigue in lower body/legs/feet

due to standing for long periods of time

at the counter to assist students.”

After: “During busy times in the

office, our staff can spend many

hours on their feet at our front

counter assisting students and

faculty”

AA/University Unions Graphic

Design Office

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

After: “Employees report great

relief from pain and feeling less

tired.”

Before: “Wrist pain is constant

with each of the employees.”

UMHHC/Cancer Center Infusion

Center

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Neck and back pains due

to bent posture while using the

laptop on a low mounted surface.

Employees have been seen in

Occupational Health due to these

injuries.”

After: “With the implementation of

MiChart the infusion nursing staff are

now charting in the patients chart at

the chair side rather than at the

nurse’s station away from the

patient.”

AA/Matthaei Botanical Gardens &

Nichols Arboretum

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “The chairs at the Reader

Center in the Arboretum are outdated

and uncomfortable to work in; they

require workers to stay in awkward

positions such as reaching, bending,

or hunching over for long periods of

time. ”

After: “We have heard that they are more

comfortable at the Arboretum office, that their

prior physical complaints about working there

have been dramatically reduced, and that they

feel like they can concentrate better without

having to be uncomfortable like they were with

the older chairs. ”

AA/Research Center for Group

Dynamics

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

After: “Thank you, I love the new chair.”

Jeannette said, “Unbelievable – what a

difference! I couldn’t adjust the old chair to

go up high enough for my wrists to be

straight. I share this space with another

user and now we can both adjust the chair

to the right height for us.”

Before: “Due to the fact that our

administrative/research staff spend

many hours a day in front of their

computers, their old chairs are

becoming an issue. Back, neck,

shoulder, arm and wrist pain have

been reported.”

U-M Dearborn/School of Education

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “We would like to replace the

faculty desk chairs from the late 80's with

no ergonomic functions and many with

non-functioning/broken wheels.”

After: “The new chairs are

comfortable and ergonomically

sound.”

AA/Environmental Health Sciences

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Many individuals using these chairs

for prolonged amounts of time report having

sore backs due to the lack of support and

crooked sitting platforms. Some individuals

also report sore back, arms and shoulders

resulting from repetitive reaching when using

chairs that are too high to fit under the lab

bench.”

After: “The easily adjustable features of

the chairs allow each person to custom

fit the chair to his/her needs while

working on a specific task. Incidents of

strain from excessive reaching and

awkward hunching have been eliminated

with the new chairs.

”

AA/Center for Research on

Learning and Teaching

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Our staff are at risk of

injury by moving heavy tables to

change set ups in two meeting

rooms. The chief risk factors are

the awkward postures and

forceful exertions to turn over 63-

lb tables, fold and unfold legs,

and carry the tables. ”

After: “We like being able to adjust

room set ups by ourselves, without

risking injury and without needing to

interrupt co-workers by asking them

to help us wrestle unwieldy tables

into place.”

UMHHC/Gifts of Art

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Therapeutic Music Practitioners in the

Gifts of Art program struggle with transporting,

extracting, and replacing their instruments in their

cases, causing physical stress and injury in

extreme cases. Also, setting up music stands and

books of sheet music in patient rooms is

physically awkward and ergonomically unfriendly,

interrupting the flow of the therapeutic music

session.”

After: “Practitioners report

significantly less physical stress

when transporting and managing

instruments.”

UMHHC/Cardiovascular Center

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “There have been several

complaints about discomfort from sitting

all day. All the bending, twisting, pushing,

and pulling leads to muscle discomfort.”

After: “An increase in quantity

of work, because employees

are more mobile and able to

continue working without

having to get up to stretch and

walk around.”

AA/Dental School Periodontics &

Oral Medicine

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “There has been many reports

regarding continuous use of mouse and

keyboard is leading to pain in wrists and

other joints in the body.”

After: “Now able to use gestures

using your fingers and less need

to use a mouse and keyboard.

Less

pressure on your hands and

wrist.”

UMHHC/HomeMed Pharmacy

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “. . .[duties] performed in a standing

position using four tables with limited

adjustable height. Table height contributes to

sustained postures as workers fill out

paperwork for long periods of time, holding

the neck and back in bent positions as

documents are read or signed on the table

surface. ”

After: “Area employees are excited to have

new equipment to work with the new table

height and adjustability. They like the

smooth work surface, which will make sliding

orders easier and cause less arm/shoulder

strains. Employees like the overhead

storage, which should reduce the need to

twist to obtain necessary supplies.”

UMHHC/Psychiatry

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Residents report that they feel

discomfort if they are working for any

length of time, as most of the chairs do

not off back support.”

After: “The new chairs are

wonderful. They are more

comfortable and because they

are adjustable they work for

people of all heights . . .”

U-M Dearborn/Office of

Provost/Community Engagement

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: We continually seek more

comfortable and adjustable castoff chairs

and try them . . . With the exception of

occasional demonstration chairs that are

loaned to us, none are functional, safe or

provide appropriate and adequate

ergonomic support. “”

After: “”

U-M Dearborn/EHSEM

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Employee has

suffered from lower back,

neck, and shoulder stiffness

[while moving 55lb drums up

ramp for disposal].”

After: “Instead of using a drum dolly

to “run” 55 gallon drums up the ramp

and into our secondary containment

unit, we can now use the drum lift to

lift the drum and roll it over to the

containment unit.”

UMHHC/Chelsea Health Center

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Often the person that is driving

the patient to their doctors appointment

is not able to help the medical assistants

assist the patient to and from their

vehicle. We have had patients fall in the

parking lot because of this. ”

After: “Increased both

patient safety and staff

safety”

UMHHC/Nursing

© 2012 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Direct request from a nurse manager

for tangible educational resources due to

multiple complaints of shoulder and knee

injuries have been reported. ”

After: “Huh…I didn’t know

we could do that! That’s a

lot easier”

Bad Better

UMHHC/Pediatric Surgery – Injury

Prevention Program

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “. . . our techs must carry the

heavy seats through the hospital

causing stress on joints, particularly

the shoulders and back. ”

After: “This increases our efficiency.

The carts are wonderful, compact,

and versatile. Staff report decrease

in back and arm pain ”

UMHHC/Briarwood Medical Group

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “Medical Assistants

complained of their backs hurting

[during patient lifts].”

After: “Staff are volunteering to

help move the patients. In the

past, we had to seek out the

individuals who were taller and

stronger; now any of the staff are

able to assist.”

U-M Flint/Biology

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “The current laboratory chair

does not adjust to the appropriate

height, forcing me to work with my

arms elevated above shoulder height

or to stand.”

After: “Much more comfortable. I am

able to sit for longer periods of time to

complete tasks more efficiently.”

UMHHC/Pediatric

Neurorehabilitation Program

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Before After

Before: “We have frequent

complaints from therapists as well as

patient’s families as they attempt to

try to transfer their children on/off

the mat”

After: “I did my first evaluation on the

mat table. It was great!”

“I can see how this mat table will help

save my back when I work on lower

body dressing with the kids.

”

Learn more and Apply for

Ergonomic Grants and Awards

at

www.Mhealthy.umich.edu

Thank You!

© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109