What Can an Ergonomist Do to Manage Dangerous Substances Better?

Abstract

The objective of the European Month of Ergonomics (EME) of the Federation of Europe-an Ergonomics Societies (FEES) is to promote the ergonomics profession in Europe. The first theme “Know your ergonomics” gave an introduction in 2009. The following EMEs became specific, and the topics are dedicated to the actual campaigns of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The EME goal is not only to relay the EU-OSHA message but to highlight the role of the ergonomics profession, to show how an ergonomist can contribute to a healthier and safer workplace, to improve performance and increase workers’ satisfaction. According to the three main ergonomics application fields defined by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) the EME 2018/19 “Ergonomist to manage dangerous sub-stances better” covers the applicable physical, cognitive and organizational interventions related both to handling materials themselves and handling the relevant information. Traditionally FEES prepares a slideshow to help federated societies and every interested professional to spread the EME message. This new slideshow contains a brief introduction on EME and EU-OSHA campaign, some definitions, the expectable benefits of the use ergonomics expertise and references to further information. To make the EME more understandable and attractive several examples are presented. Physically handling dangerous substances means e.g. material handling, lifting, moving, carrying which requires proper package shape and size, tools, process, task and organizational design. Cognitive ergonomics regarding dangerous substances e.g. can improve the visual appearance with colour and shape coding, symbols and pictograms, environmental design to easy recognition. Organisational ergonomics can help to eliminate modality changes, decrease exposures, define better processes. We hope this EME will prove again that ergonomics can be a competitive factor in healthier and safer workplaces.