Category: Recent news

Vacancy Announcement: Ergonomist Position at the General Secretariat of the Council

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

The General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) is seeking a qualified Ergonomist (Temporary Agent AD.6) to join the Safety Unit of the Safety and Security Directorate in Brussels. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the well-being of staff, delegates, and contractors by ensuring safe working conditions and ergonomic best practices at one of the EU’s key institutions.

About the Role

The selected candidate will work within the Safety Policy and Advice Sector, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to improve workplace ergonomics. Key responsibilities include:

  • Conducting individual preventive ergonomic assessments to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
  • Performing analyses and interventions in physical and cognitive ergonomics.
  • Providing expert advice on integrating ergonomics and human factors into IT application design.
  • Developing policies related to occupational safety, hygiene, and ergonomics.
  • Conducting surveys, drawing up statistics, and prioritizing risk-prevention measures.
  • Organizing specialized staff training and delivering presentations.
  • Contributing to the implementation of ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety guidelines.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be a national of an EU Member State.
  • Have at least five years of full-time professional experience in ergonomics.
  • Hold a Master’s degree in a related field, with additional specialist training in ergonomics (60 ECTS credits).
  • Be a certified European Ergonomist (Eur.Erg.) or hold an equivalent professional registration.
  • Demonstrate fluency in English and French (C1 level minimum).
  • Show strong analytical skills, creative problem-solving, and a commitment to improving workplace safety.

Why to Apply

  • Competitive monthly salary of €6,681.51 (before deductions).
  • A four-year contract with the possibility of renewal.
  • A dynamic, collaborative work environment committed to diversity and inclusion.
  • The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on occupational safety policies at the EU level.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the EU CV Online platform by 21 February 2025, 12:00 CET. All relevant fields must be completed, and supporting documents (certificates, diplomas) may be required at any stage. Only online applications will be considered.

For further details on the role, eligibility criteria, and selection process, visit the EU CV Online portal or contact gsc-ta-selections@consilium.europa.eu, clearly indicating the reference CONS/1/2025/TA-AD/ORG.5.D.S1.

For the official announcement, go to https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/jobs/vacancies/cons12025ta-adorg5ds1/.

This post was generated by AI and reviewed by a human.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Workplace Safety and Health

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workplace safety and health, presenting challenges and opportunities in an increasingly digital world. Witnessing the shared commitment to exploring these evolving issues is encouraging, particularly as AI-driven worker management systems become more prevalent across various industries.

Understanding AI-Based Worker Management Systems

AI-based worker management systems are digital tools that collect and analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, such as PCs, mobile devices, and workplace sensors. These systems can be categorized into two main types:

  1. Automated Decision-Making Systems – These systems operate independently, making decisions without human intervention. While they enhance efficiency, their implementation requires careful consideration to ensure fairness and compliance with labour regulations.
  2. Semi-Automated Systems – In these systems, AI-generated recommendations are reviewed by human managers before final decisions are made. This approach allows for a balance between automation and human oversight.

These technologies are used in various applications, including:

  • Labor Forecasting – AI predicts workforce needs based on customer demand and weather conditions, optimizing shift schedules.
  • Performance Evaluation – AI assesses worker efficiency by tracking task completion times and other productivity metrics.
  • HR Management Support – AI assists in recruitment, training, and workforce allocation to enhance operational efficiency.

Adoption and Impact in the EU

The facts from EU-OSHA show the adoption of AI-driven worker management systems across the European Union. Key findings indicate:

  • While adoption is still relatively low, there is a growing trend, particularly in large companies managing extensive workforces.
  • These systems are predominantly used in industries involving manual and repetitive tasks, such as warehousing, professional cleaning, healthcare, banking, and call centres.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the deployment of AI-based worker management technologies, with a sharp increase observed in 2020.

Worker Perspectives and Health Implications

While AI-driven systems enhance efficiency, they also raise concerns related to:

  • Job Security – Automation may lead to workforce reductions in specific sectors.
  • Workplace Stress – Continuous monitoring and performance tracking can increase pressure on employees.
  • Data Privacy – The extensive use of personal and professional data necessitates stringent privacy regulations.

Moving Forward

As AI continues integrating into workplace management, it is crucial to balance technological advancement and worker well-being. Policymakers, employers, and researchers must collaborate to ensure that AI-driven systems enhance productivity while safeguarding employee rights and health. Ongoing research and discussions, such as this campaign, play a vital role in shaping the future of AI in workplace safety and health.

For more information on the campaign, visit the official EU OSHA page: Healthy Workplaces Campaign.

The Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES) is a proud partner of the “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age 2023-2025” EU OSHA campaign.

SELF Congress and Activities: 2024 and Beyond

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

2025 SELF Congress: Save the Date

The next SELF Congress will take place from July 2 to July 4, 2025, at Paris Nanterre University.

Theme: Ergonomics, Community(ies), and Society: Between Legacies and Perspectives

In a rapidly transforming societal context—shaped by technological, social, economic, political, and environmental changes—ergonomics continues to evolve. The 2025 congress will explore how these transformations influence the principles, concepts, methods, and practices of ergonomics, while addressing the growing diversity within the field.

The congress will focus on two main axes:

  1. Interplay Between Activity Ergonomics and Society
    This axis will examine how ergonomics principles have evolved alongside societal changes, their reciprocal influence, and how they shape current practices. Discussions will also address emerging challenges and new perspectives for the discipline.
  2. Ergonomics Community(ies): Structure and Dynamics
    Topics will include the evolution of ergonomics education, the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how specialization impacts the profession’s structure and networks.

Additional contributions are welcome on the ten transversal themes of SELF congresses.

Submit Your Contribution
Proposals can be submitted online. Instructions and key dates are available on the Author Guidelines page.

Stay Informed
To receive updates, email self2025@cborg.fr.

Future Congresses
  • 2026: Avignon
  • 2027: Nantes

2024: Bridging the Gap

Although there is no global SELF Congress in 2024, several initiatives have been organized in collaboration with local associations and universities. These events, held in Northern France, Corsica, Switzerland, and Quebec, focus on topics such as:

  • Ergonomics and SMEs
  • New technologies
  • Ergonomics interventions

These initiatives aim to attract new members, raise awareness of SELF’s activities, and foster collaboration within the ergonomics community.

SELF Activities and Projects

  1. Information Outreach
    A new website, ergonomie-self.org, and a regular newsletter, SELFActu (selfactu@ergonomie-self.org), have been launched to keep members informed and engaged.
  2. Commissions
    SELF’s work is driven by several commissions open to members:
    • History Commission: Collecting and publishing interviews with senior ergonomists (approximately 100 interviews published so far).
    • Young Practitioners Commission: Facilitating exchanges on good practices among young professionals.
    • Occupational Risks Commission: Organizing workshops, conferences, and reflections on workplace risks.
    • Research Commission (New): Enhancing and coordinating ergonomics research.
  3. Collaboration with Journals
    SELF supports two journals:
    • Activités (in French)
    • Laboreal (in Portuguese)
  4. Public Advocacy
    SELF actively promotes the ergonomics profession and participates in public debates. Recent efforts include advocating for the future of OSH research at the INRS (National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases).

Mark your calendars for the 2025 SELF Congress and stay connected with SELF’s ongoing activities and initiatives!

New Belgian regulations relating to ergonomics at work and the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at work

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

Preventing musculoskeletal disorders at work was only partially regulated in Belgium before 25 May 2024, when a new regulation was enacted. The Royal Decree (RD) of 19 March 2024 amended Book VIII of the Code of Well-being at Work regarding ergonomics and preventing MSDs at work.

The large number of workers absent from (long-term) work due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) clearly shows that there is an urgent need to focus more on preventing these disorders and on improving workplace ergonomics in general. This comprehensive approach is immediately apparent in the new Title of Book VIII of the Code, which will subsequently be entitled ‘Ergonomics at Work and Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders’.

Key Concepts Introduced by the Royal Decree

The Royal Decree first introduces four concepts defined in the Code:

  • The ergonomist prevention consultant
  • Ergonomics at work
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Musculoskeletal risks at work

General Principles Added to Book VIII

The Royal Decree then adds certain general principles relating to ergonomics at work and the prevention of MSDs to Book VIII of the Code, which are included in the new Title 1:

  • The employer must consider ergonomics when designing and fitting new workstations and adapting existing ones.
  • The employer must implement a policy of preventing MSDs or other health problems caused or aggravated by musculoskeletal risks at work through a global approach that takes into account the various risk factors, such as biomechanical risk factors, other risk factors linked to the workstation, and the results of risk analyses carried out in different areas of well-being that may impact musculoskeletal risks at work (e.g., vibrations).
  • Several biomechanical risk factors should be considered in the risk analysis, such as the use of force, repetitive movements, duration and frequency of movements or tasks, working postures, gestures at work and contact force.
  • Appropriate preventive measures must then be taken to deal as effectively as possible with these musculoskeletal risks in the workplace. This prevention policy must also be regularly evaluated and updated.
  • The players with roles in this prevention policy are specified: the prevention advisor from the internal occupational health and safety service, the ergonomic prevention advisor and the prevention advisor/occupational physician. Finally, workers and the committee for prevention and protection at work must be informed and trained about musculoskeletal risks at work and the various preventive measures.

Tools and Information

Numerous information brochures, resources, and tools are available on the www.beswic.be website and via www.preventiondestms.be to inform and raise awareness among employers, workers, and prevention consultants about musculoskeletal risks and help them improve ergonomics in the workplace.

Webinar

On 27 May 2024, the Directorate-General for Human Resources at Work (DG HUT) of the Federal Public Service Employment organised a webinar on the new ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) legislation.

More information on this BeSWIC site: Relive the webinar on the new regulations on ergonomics and MSD prevention.

Read the full text of the Royal Decree on the Moniteur Belge website: Moniteur Belge (gov.be).

Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age: Adapting OSH for the Future

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

Digitalisation is revolutionising the workplace, bringing opportunities and challenges requiring new ergonomics / human factors solutions to update occupational safety and health (OSH). With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, collaborative robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), algorithms, digital labour platforms, and increased remote work, workers and employers face new risks and opportunities. The key to addressing these challenges lies in how these technologies are applied, managed, and regulated within current social, political, and economic contexts.

EU-OSHA’s Efforts and Campaigns

EU-OSHA’s Healthy Workplaces Campaign, “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age” (2023-2025), aims to raise awareness about the implications of digital technologies on workplace safety and health. This campaign underscores the importance of a human-centred approach in designing, implementing, managing, and using these technologies to ensure they are safe and productive. The priority areas:

Advanced Robotics and Automation – Key Considerations for Human Interaction and Trust

According to the Agency’s recently published Policy Brief, “Advanced robotics and automation: Key considerations for human interaction and trust“, the growing autonomy in advanced robotic systems necessitates a shift in the terminology from ‘use’ to ‘interaction’ between humans and robots. The quality of this interaction significantly impacts occupational safety and health (OSH) factors. Various aspects of robotic interaction design, such as cognitive ergonomics, outward appearance, embodiment, robot behaviour, and communication styles, are linked to OSH risks and opportunities. The primary objective is facilitating smooth and natural interactions, enhancing well-being, acceptance, trust, and user experience while mitigating stress and other adverse outcomes.

Anthropomorphic Robot Design

  • Appearance and Behavior: Human-like features (e.g., eyes, facial expressions) can enhance natural interaction and acceptance, especially in social robotics. However, excessive human likeness may cause negative emotions due to the “uncanny valley” effect.
  • Expectation Management: Anthropomorphic features may lead to unrealistic expectations about a robot’s capabilities, potentially impacting task performance and safety. For example, workers might erroneously attribute visual or auditory perception to robots with eyes or ears.
  • Task-Relevant Design: In industrial settings, anthropomorphic movements can improve workflow and task accuracy but must be carefully designed to avoid misinterpretation and potential hazards.

Interaction Principles and Transparency

  • Design Principles: General ergonomic design principles, such as those in EN ISO 9241-110, apply to robotic systems, improving usability and user experience.
  • Cognitive and Sensorial Aid: With increasing robotic autonomy, interaction design must provide mental and sensory aids to prevent information overload and ensure effective decision-making.
  • System Transparency: Adequate transparency is crucial for users to understand robotic actions and intentions, fostering trust and reliability. However, too much information can overload and hinder critical information processing.

Trust in Human-Robot Interaction

  • Calibrated Trust: Appropriate trust in robotic systems is essential for effective collaboration. Over-reliance can lead to complacency, while insufficient trust can result in underutilisation. Trust must be calibrated to match the robot’s capabilities.
  • Influential Factors: Trust is influenced by human-related factors (e.g., user satisfaction, comfort), robot-related factors (e.g., reliability, anthropomorphism), and context-related factors (e.g., team collaboration task difficulty). Reliable and empathetic robots foster higher trust levels.

Risks and Recommendations

  • Privacy and Control: Collecting and analysing data for personalised interaction can raise privacy concerns and feelings of alienation. Ensuring transparency and adhering to data protection regulations is critical.
  • Training and Adaptation: Training on automation bias and system capabilities can mitigate trust miscalibrations. Continuous adaptation to user preferences and task requirements enhances interaction quality.

“Napo in… robots at work”

“Napo in… robots at work” animation provides an overview of safety considerations related to workplace robotics. The film outlines various emerging robotic technologies, associated accident types, key hazards, and control measures.

Production line workers face the highest risk, followed by maintenance workers. Most injuries result from poor workplace design and human error. Technological advances, such as fixed robots, collaborative and mobile robots, and exoskeletons, can enhance working conditions and introduce new hazards in manufacturing environments.

Join the Campaign

The Federation of the European Ergonomics Societies is one of the few EU-OSHA “Safe and Healthy Work in the Digital Age” campaign partners. Ergonomists have a crucial role in creating healthy workplaces and improving performance and user satisfaction.

Please learn more about ergonomics, human factors and occupational health in the digital age. Visit the campaign’s new “Automation of Tasks” Priority Area for more information, resources, materials, insights and practical tools to ensure safe and healthy work environments in the digital age.

The gap between a “human” and a “person”

Pedro Ferreira

By Pedro Ferreira

The continuous and accelerating rate of change seems to be the new normal for every profession and work context. This much can also be said about our own lives. It seems increasingly difficult to make sense of the boundaries between family, personal life, and work. We struggle to make sense of the organisation around us and the roles we are meant to be fulfilling seem increasingly blurry or hybrid.

Ergonomics has evolved across many boundaries, both scientific and professional practice. In my mind, this has always been one of the key challenges when conveying to stakeholders the relevance and added value of ergonomics. Exchanges with different colleagues worldwide have further reinforced this belief. The blurriness and dynamics at the boundaries of ergonomics seem an unsurmountable problem.

Recently, I have come to question these assumptions: How is this a problem? How does it really manifest itself? As you explore such questions, a much better understanding of the situation and its context emerges. Rather than looking outwards for causes and solutions, I started to focus on my own perceptions and perspectives. What has always appeared like an impossible challenge feels increasingly like an open array of opportunities.

It’s not about the tools and methods but rather the methodology itself. While I’ve always advocated my methodology as one that focuses on the person and its context at work, my self-questioning led me to realise how much I had allowed myself to be drawn into this inescapable tendency to look at the person as yet another part of a system. Much is said today about “technical, organisational and human factors” or even “organisational and human factors”. But ask yourself how much these common expressions do not push you towards levelling out the existing and fundamental differences despite placing these factors in “different boxes”?

The ultimate question is, what differences do I see between a “human” and a “person”? If we aim to explain performance and behaviour, and look at these as the result of a combination of body and brain activity, then little opportunity is there to understand the person. The richness of ergonomics, particularly its multi and inter-disciplinarity, lies in the ability to see the person as more than a mechanistic set of physiology and cognition. Communicating the value of ergonomics must not come from an (implicitly or explicitly) oversimplification of the person but rather by challenging the beliefs of stakeholders in regard to what a person is. In the end, what ergonomics practitioners share with their stakeholders is the desire to make better use of the unique human abilities to cope with the high complexity and uncertainty of our world. This can only be pursued by understanding the persons far beyond the generic human standards.

Ergonomics, Human Factors and Machinery

Update on Machinery Regulation and Standardization Activities

Gyula Szabó

The new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 has significant ergonomics and human factors implications. The regulation lays down health and safety requirements for the design and construction of machinery, aiming to ensure high protection for persons, particularly consumers and professional users.

The regulation considers digital technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics and their safety/liability challenges. These technologies directly impact ergonomics and human factors as they change how humans interact with machinery. For instance, AI can lead to more intuitive user interfaces, while IoT can provide real-time feedback to operators, enhancing safety and efficiency.

Furthermore, the regulation mandates that machinery or related products may only be made available on the market or put into service if they meet the essential health and safety requirements in Annex III. These requirements likely include ergonomic considerations, such as the design of controls and displays, the provision of adjustable workstations, and the minimization of physical strain and fatigue.

While the specific requirements are mainly provided through European harmonized standards elaborated by European standards organizations, they generally cover aspects such as:

  • The design and construction of machinery to ensure safety.
  • The proper installation and maintenance of machinery.
  • The intended use or any reasonably foreseeable misuse of machinery.

It’s important to note that these requirements are directly applicable in Member States as, unlike those of a Directive, there is no need to be transposed into national legislation. This ensures uniform application for all operators across the Union and does not give room for divergent implementation by Member states.

The new regulation also aims to better cover new technologies such as autonomous mobile machinery (robots), the Internet of Things with connected equipment, or artificial intelligence (AI), where specific modules of AI using learning techniques ensure safety functions1. This highlights the evolving nature of these requirements in response to technological advancements.

The regulation also addresses the issue of ‘incomplete machinery’ and ‘substantial modifications’, providing clearer rules for manufacturers and other economic operators. This clarity can help ensure that modifications to machinery do not negatively impact ergonomics or compromise user safety.

Pascal Etienne represented FEES at the November 2023 Machinery Expert Group meeting. From an Ergonomics and Human Factors perspective, several advances in this field are expected in the next few months.

The New Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230

The new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 is set to come into effect on January 20, 2027. However, it’s important to note that some articles will apply before this date due to Article 54 of the regulation. This includes aspects related to notified bodies, penalties, the Committee, delegated acts, and the categories of machines mentioned in Annex I.

Template for Collection of Machinery-Related Accident Data

The Commission has proposed a template for collecting machinery-related accident data by Member States. This template includes accidents causing harm and also damage to health caused by machines or related products.

Guide to Application of the New Machinery Regulation

The European Commission has launched a Call for Expression of Interest for experts and organizations to participate in revising the Guide to the Application of the Machinery Directive, aligning it with the updated Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. The process is led by the Editorial Group, chaired by Mr. Alwin Verdaasdonk of the Dutch national authority, supported by co-chair Ms. Wendy Van Aerschot (Belgian national authority) and secretary Mr. Marcel Dutrieux (EGMF). The group will oversee five specialized sub-groups addressing key topics such as AI-powered safety functions, cyber-safety, and digital instructions. They aim to refine and update the guide, ensuring alignment with new legislative and technological developments.

Experts from EU Member States, EFTA countries, Türkiye, and other interested parties are encouraged to apply for participation in the sub-groups, which will organize themselves to support this work. Applications should include a motivation letter and CV, submitted to the group’s secretary at machineryeditorialgroup@gmail.com. The initial deadline is 25 April 2025, but applications will remain open until further notice. This initiative provides an opportunity to contribute to modernising machinery safety guidelines, ensuring they remain relevant and practical in light of evolving industry practices.

Standardization

The draft standardization request in support of the new Machinery Regulation will be published later. About 700 EN standards (hENs) under the machinery directive will be revised, with 40% under the ISO CEN agreement. Modifications in some essential health and safety requirements (EHSR) will impact about 60% of the EN standards.

For CEN, the task is to transfer the EN standards under the Machinery Directive to the new Machines Regulation. The work program results will be communicated to the Commission, and the work must be carried out by the end of 2024 using a tool to be developed. The first batches of revised standards will be presented in April/May 2026.

The Judgment of the Court in Case C-588/21 by the European Court of Justice, declaring that European harmonized technical standards on toy safety must be accessible to EU citizens, has significant implications for machinery safety.

Firstly, the ruling emphasizes the importance of transparency and accessibility of safety standards. This is particularly relevant for machinery manufacturers and other economic operators, who must ensure their products meet these standards to be placed on the European market. By making these standards accessible, manufacturers can better understand and comply with safety requirements, leading to safer machinery and reduced risk of accidents.

Secondly, the ruling could potentially lead to greater involvement of stakeholders in developing and revising safety standards. This could result in more comprehensive, up-to-date standards that reflect real-world conditions and challenges.

Finally, the ruling underscores the role of harmonized standards as part of EU law. This means these standards are not just guidelines but have legal implications. Manufacturers who fail to comply with these standards could face legal consequences.

Stay tuned for more updates on these important matters.