Sizing up Australia: toward a national sizing survey

This paper reports on the outcomes of research on the use of anthropometric data by designers of Australian workplaces and products used in Australian workplaces. Australian designers were asked how they used anthropometric data, and about the adequacy of data that were available to them for their needs as designers. In addition to a review of published and grey literature, designers were surveyed and asked for detailed information about their use of anthropometric data and about their needs. Thirty-two completed questionnaires were received. Two focus groups of designers were conducted; 13 people attended in Adelaide and 16 in Melbourne. The data indicated that designers either did not use anthropometric data at all or had difficulty finding data that were reliable and relevant to their specific needs. In response to the findings the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia developed a Special Interest Group for anthropometry that currently has over 150 members. The Group is actively lobbying government for an Australian Sizing Survey, so this research is an important stimulus to a major policy investment for Australia.     

A toolkit for MSDs prevention--WHO and IEA context

Many simple MSD risk management tools have been developed by ergonomists for use by workers and employers with little or no training to undertake injury prevention programs in their workplace. However, currently there is no "toolkit" which places such tools within an holistic, participative ergonomics framework and provides guidance on how best to use individual tools. It is proposed that such an holistic approach should entail initial analysis and evaluation of underlying systems of work and related health and performance indicators, prior to focusing in assessment of MSD risks stemming from particular hazards. Depending on the context, more narrowly focused tools might then be selected to assess risk associated with jobs or tasks identified as problematic. This approach ensures that biomechanical risk factors are considered within a broad context of organizational and psychosocial risk factors. This is consistent with current research evidence on work- related causes of MSDs.