Category: Resosurces

Ergonomics Resources

FEES Webinar Update

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

FEES is pleased to share several upcoming and topical ergonomics and human factors webinars organised by international partners. These sessions highlight important developments in musculoskeletal disorder prevention, visual ergonomics, EU regulation, surgical ergonomics, and advanced human performance modelling.

IEA Webinars

WMSDs in High-Risk Occupations: Cross-National Insights from Manufacturing, Construction and Handicraft Industries in Asia

📅 20 November 2025
🔗 https://iea.cc/event/wmsds-in-high-risk-occupations-cross-national-insights-from-manufacturing-construction-and-handicraft-industries-in-asia/

A cross-national look at musculoskeletal disorder risks in high-risk occupations, examining exposure differences and effective prevention strategies across sectors.

Linking Practice and Science in Visual Ergonomics – Part II

📅 14 November 2025
🔗 https://iea.cc/event/linking-practice-and-science-in-visual-ergonomics-part-ii/

A focused session on advances in visual ergonomics and the integration of scientific evidence into practical workplace design.

ISSA Section Machine and System Safety – Digital Manufacturing

Musculoskeletal Health and Prevention Strategies in Europe

📅 Upcoming
🔗 https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f4388c6f-4b49-4531-9880-1227201ae98c@f3987bed-0f17-4307-a6bb-a2ae861736b7

A webinar highlighting MSD challenges in Europe, new prevention tools, and combined ergonomic–organisational solutions.

HFES Webinars (USA)

HCTG, HFTH and SSE Joint Webinar: Connecting Human Factors/Ergonomics Theory with Applications in Health Care – Physical Ergonomics and Exoskeletons in Surgery

📅 21 November 2025 – 1:00 PM ET

This joint session (HCTG, HFTH, SSE) is part of an educational series bridging HF/E theory with practical applications in healthcare delivery.
Focus areas:

  • Foundational physical ergonomics theories and models
  • Ergonomics in surgical settings
  • Case studies on exoskeletons in surgery
  • Surgeon experience with exoskeleton use (Dr. Philip Haigh)

Speakers:
M. Susan Hallbeck (Mayo Clinic) · Jackie Cha (University of Wisconsin–Madison) · Philip Haigh (Kaiser Permanente)
Moderators: David Neyens · Brittany Anderson-Montoya

Human Performance Modeling Technical Group Webinar: Computational Models of Human Performance – An Algebraic Equation Approach

📅 15 January 2026 – 1:00 PM ET

A deep dive into algebraic equation–driven computational modelling of human performance, contrasting this approach with discrete-event cognitive simulation methods.
Topics include:

  • Attention models (SEEV, NSEEV, scan-clutter tradeoff)
  • Multiple resource theory
  • Task switching (STOM)
  • Models of human–automation interaction

Speaker:
Chris Wickens (Colorado State University)
Moderator: Ji-Eun Kim

Technology for Co-Working on Health and Active Life – 2nd Conference

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Technology for Co-Working on Health and Active Life – 2nd Conference

11 December 2025 (online)

FEES is pleased to endorse the 2nd “Technology for Co-Working on Health and Active Life” Conference, supported by AAL Europe.
The event focuses on integrating technology, ergonomics, occupational health, and health care, with a strong emphasis on human-centred approaches and AI.

The conference brings together researchers and practitioners working on solutions that support healthy and active living across Europe, with attention to community-based care models, interdisciplinary competence development and open technological platforms.

Date & time: 11 December 2025, 14:00 (CET)
Format: Virtual
Registration: sponsored attendance (free of charge) – Please register via the conference website.
Contact: events@kohs.at

Call for Papers

Short presentations (~7 minutes) are invited.
Abstract submission deadline: 15 November 2025.

Conference papers are planned for publication in:

  • IETI TES – Transactions on Ergonomics and Safety
  • IETI TERP – Transactions on Engineering Research and Practice

Topics

The programme addresses current challenges in health care and the role of ergonomics and technology in supporting active life, including:

  • community health and co-working concepts,
  • technology needs and open platforms,
  • data requirements and open data structures,
  • interdisciplinary and interprofessional ergonomics education,
  • user experience approaches,
  • integrated learning,
  • joint cognitive systems and sociotechnical system design,
  • ergonomics considerations for primary and secondary users.

Speaker Line-Up

Contributions include experts from Europe and beyond, among them:
Andrew Thatcher, Elisabeth Quendler, Laura Salgado Ferreira, Niclas Grabbe, Aleksandar Zunjic, Christina Harbauer, Gyula Szabó, Tihomir Dovramadjiev, Clemens Lutsch, Alexander Burov, Darina Dobreva, Mariela Todorova, Albena Dobreva, Presiyan Penchev, Irina Radulescu, Harald Kviecien.

Cooperation

The conference is supported by:

  • AAL Europe
  • BAEHF – Bulgarian Association of Ergonomics and Human Factors
  • MET – Hungarian Ergonomics Society
  • IEA Technical Committee for Safety and Health
  • ÖAE – Austrian Ergonomics Society

Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society – Monthly Webinar Series

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

The Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (IHFES) runs a lively monthly webinar series exploring a wide range of ergonomics and human factors topics. These free sessions bring together researchers, practitioners, and students to discuss both foundational and emerging issues in the field.

Recent topics have included:

  • Beyond Compliance: Workplace Ergonomics in Ireland
  • The Role of Human Factors in Intellectual Disability
  • 3D Printing and User-Centered Design in Healthcare
  • AI-Enhanced Applications in Safety-Critical Contexts
  • Human Factors in Atomic Energy Regulation
  • International Collaboration in Patient Safety Investigations

The series has also featured in-depth sessions on aviation safety, healthcare, digitalization, brain-computer interfaces, and many other areas that reflect the diversity and relevance of ergonomics today.

👉 Explore past webinars and subscribe to the IHFES YouTube channel for upcoming events: IHFES Monthly Webinars

Learning Opportunities in Ergonomics

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

Upcoming Webinars

FEES is committed to supporting lifelong learning in ergonomics by sharing high-quality international opportunities for researchers, practitioners, and students. This autumn brings a rich selection of free webinars from leading organisations in occupational safety, health, and ergonomics.

📌 From Lab to Line: Practical OSH Strategies for Digital Manufacturing

The project group “Digital Manufacturing” of the ISSA Section Machine and System Safety has launched a new international webinar series focusing on the intersections of Occupational Safety and Health, Wellbeing, AI, Digitalisation, and Industrial Security.
Experts from around the world will present strategies and innovations shaping the future of safe and sustainable workplaces.

Upcoming sessions:

  • Sept. 3, 2025 – Balancing Tech and Wellbeing: Rethinking Work in the Digital Age – Dr. Keyao (Eden) Li, Edith Cowan University, Australia
  • Sept. 8, 2025 – Securing the Route: How Digital Technologies Safeguard Personnel in Cash Transport – Fabian Klein, DGUV, Germany
  • Sept. 25, 2025 – Testbed Smart Factory as a Platform for Industrial Safety R&D – Radim Hercik & Tomáš Jahn, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic
  • Oct. 6, 2025 – Common Security Advisory Framework (CSAF) for Developers – Matthias Weitz, DGUV, Germany

👉 Details and registration (free of charge)

📌 OHCOW October Webinar Series 2025

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) are hosting their annual October Webinar Series, addressing key ergonomics and workplace health topics. These sessions provide practical knowledge for improving occupational health and preventing work-related disorders.

📌 IEA Webinar Series

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) regularly offers global webinars that showcase cutting-edge research and applications across all areas of ergonomics and human factors. These events connect experts, students, and practitioners worldwide, supporting the advancement of ergonomics education and practice.

Featured Webinar: Informal Work in Latin America – Ergonomics Perspectives and Experiences from Brazil

As part of the IEA’s Informal Work Webinar Series, the next session is scheduled for 29 October 2025 at 16:00 UTC (13:00 Brazil, 09:00 US EST). Organised by the IEA Technical Committee on Informal Work in collaboration with the ICOH Working Group on “Demographic Changes, Inequalities and the Future of Decent Work”, and in partnership with the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of São Carlos, this 90-minute event will provide an overview of informal work practices in Brazil.

The session will particularly focus on how technological and organisational innovations impact working conditions and the broader dynamics of precariousness, while also exploring how informality reshapes the societal role of work. The webinar will be delivered in Brazilian Portuguese with English subtitles; live Q&A will be available in both languages with simultaneous translation.

👉 More information and registration: Informal Work in Latin America – Ergonomics Perspectives and Experiences from Brazil

💡 We warmly encourage you to explore these opportunities, join the discussions, and contribute to shaping safer, healthier, and more ergonomic workplaces.

New Ergonomic Resources from OHCOW

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We are pleased to inform you about a valuable resource from The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) that can significantly enhance your knowledge and practices in workplace ergonomics. OHCOW is a prominent organization dedicated to improving workplace health and safety in Ontario, Canada, and its focus on ergonomics provides critical insights and practical solutions to prevent occupational injuries and diseases.

Injury Prevention through Ergonomics

OHCOW’s Injury Prevention page is an excellent resource highlighting the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. Poor ergonomic practices are a leading cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and OHCOW provides comprehensive information to help mitigate these risks. The page covers:

  • Ergonomic Risk Factors: Identification of repetitive motions, awkward postures, and excessive force as key contributors to MSDs.
  • Practical Solutions: Guidelines for proper workstation setup, tool and equipment adjustments, and safe manual handling techniques.
  • Ergonomic Assessments: Expert evaluations of workplace setups with tailored recommendations for improvement.
  • Educational Materials: Brochures, guides, and checklists that serve as useful references for ongoing ergonomic enhancements.

These resources are designed to help workers and employers create safer and more comfortable work environments, reduce the incidence of MSDs, and promote overall workplace health.

Ergonomics Podcasts

OHCOW also offers an engaging podcast series featuring several episodes specifically on ergonomics. These podcasts provide in-depth discussions and practical advice from experts in the field:

  1. Ergonomics in the Workplace
    This is an overview of workplace ergonomics, including the importance of ergonomic design, proper posture, and regular breaks to avoid repetitive strain injuries.
  2. Office Ergonomics: Creating a Healthy Workspace
    Tips for setting up an ergonomic office environment, addressing the correct placement of computer monitors, keyboards, and chairs, and the impact of prolonged sitting.
  3. Manual Handling and Ergonomics
    There are strategies for minimizing injury risks in manual handling jobs, including proper lifting techniques, the use of assistive devices, and the importance of training.
  4. Ergonomic Solutions for Remote Work
    This article provides advice on setting up a home office to address the unique ergonomic challenges of remote work. Emphasis is placed on selecting ergonomic furniture and equipment and incorporating regular breaks and physical activity.

These podcasts are an excellent way to stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in ergonomics, helping you create safer and more comfortable work environments.

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) provides essential resources that can benefit all members of the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies. Their comprehensive injury prevention programs and engaging podcasts offer valuable information and practical solutions to enhance workplace health and safety. We encourage you to explore these resources and integrate their insights into your practices.

For more information and to access these resources, please visit OHCOW’s website.

Summer School in DHM and Simulation 2024

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

The University of Antwerp’s Centre for Health and Technology (CHaT) is excited to announce the Summer School in Digital Human Modeling and Simulation 2024. This event offers an international platform for researchers and professors to share and teach the latest innovations, discuss the state-of-the-art in the field, and exchange ideas and visions in all areas of digital human modelling research and applications.

Event Details

  • Dates: Monday, 23rd September to Wednesday, 25th September 2024
  • Location: University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Building R
  • Format: Hybrid (both online and onsite participation available)

Registration Fees

  • Academics (Online and Onsite): €300
  • Non-Academics (Online and Onsite): €600
  • Discount: Members of the Belgian Ergonomics Society or other Ergonomics Societies receive a €50 discount.

Program Schedule

23rd September

  • 10-11 AM: Introduction to DHM, Prof. Sofia Scataglini
  • 11-12 AM: Comfort and Discomfort, Prof. Xuguang Wang
  • Lunch Break
  • 1-2 PM: Extended Reality in Medicine, Prof. Marco Mandolini
  • 2-3 PM: Modelling the Hand, Prof. Esteban Peña Pitarch
  • 3-4 PM: The Role of Diagnostic Imaging (in silico medicine), Prof. Francesco Feletti
  • 4-5 PM: Design and Analysis of Mechanical Devices with Musculoskeletal Models, Prof. Michael Skipper Andersen
  • 5-6 PM: Biomechanical Perception Models Predicting Motion Comfort and Sickness in Automated Driving, Prof. Riender Happee

24th September

  • 10-11 AM: Neuroergonomics, AI and Passive Brain-Computer Interface (pBCI) for Enhanced Human Performance, Prof. Umer Asher
  • 11-12 AM: Computer-aided Technologies (CAD/CAM/CAE) for Prosthetics, Prof. Gregor Harih
  • Lunch Break
  • 1-2 PM: DHM in the Product Realization Process, Prof. Dan Hogberg
  • 2-3 PM: Human-Centred Robotics, Prof. Giacomo Palmieri
  • 3-4 PM: Inclusive Design in DHM, Prof. Silvia Imbesi
  • 4-5 PM: Human-Autonomous Systems, Prof. Simone Borsci
  • 5-6 PM: DHM and EEG, ECG, Posturography Affection, In-Cockpit Motion Modeling, Pilot Studies, Prof. Vladimir Socha

25th September

  • 10-11 AM: Modeling and Simulation of Movement for Stroke, Prof. Redha Taiar
  • 11-12 AM: DHM and Anthropometry, Prof. Erik Brolin
  • Lunch Break
  • 1-2 PM: DHM for Human-Centric Engineering and Medicine, Prof. James Yang
  • 2-3 PM: DHM and Infrared Thermography, Prof. Ameersing Luximon
  • 3-4 PM: Digital Work Planning: Integrating Ergonomics, Productivity, and Age-Appropriate Production Design using ema Work Designer, Michael Spitzhirn
  • 4-5 PM: DHM and IMMA, Prof. Lars Hanson

Registration

Please visit our registration page to register for the Summer School in Digital Human Modeling and Simulation 2024.

For further information, contact:

  • Prof. Sofia Scataglini (Chair of TC DHM at IEA, International Coordinator of 4D4ALL)
  • Prof. Steven Truijen (Chair of 4D4ALL)

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field and connect with peers worldwide. We look forward to seeing you there!

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.

How to avoid being burnt in a hotel bathroom?

Bernard Michez Leave a comment

This event happened during the last seminar of FEES. Meeting at breakfast time, two executive board members told the others that they had been burnt by the shower (in fact, alternatively burnt and frozen). For the two members, the design of the water mixer tap was counter-intuitive, although for the others, it was regular. The exchanges showed that the two members had never been confronted with the water mixer tap without signs on it (red or blue). They told the story: “I went in the shower area and saw the taps, one at each extremity of the ramp. I was under the main shower head, immediately over my head. As there was no indication on the taps, I began with the right one. I turned it upside down and was surprised and frozen by the very cold water from the main shower. I immediately turned it the opposite, and then the flow came to the small shower head, heading to the wall. It was still cold water. Then I tried the left tap. As nothing was indicated on the tap, I turned it upside, then downside, and settled it to the desired temperature. Then, I changed the orientation of the flow to the main shower head on the ceiling. It worked…. Until someone in the rooms around mine used its shower. The flow instantly changed from warm to iceberg.

Surprised, I put my hand on the left tap and tried to raise the heat…. But too strongly. Ouch!”

Ergonomics, Human Factors and Machinery

The European Machinery Directive – webinar

Gyula Szabo Leave a comment

The European Machinery Directive, Webinar on the 21st of November 13h UTC.

The Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES), an IEA regional network, and the IEA Safety and Health Technical Committee organised the series on tools fostering the development of ergonomics and human factors.

Register for this webinar.

Presenters:

  • Pascal Etienne, Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES), executive board member, pascal.etienne0@orange.fr
  • Aleksandar Zunjic, FEES General Secretary, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
  • Pedro Ferreira, FEES Treasurer, CENTEC, IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal
  • Bernard Michez, FEES president, CEO Ergotec company, France
  • Gyula Szabó, FEES executive board member, Faculty of Mechanical and Safety Engineering, Óbuda University, Budapest, Hungary
  • Jochen Eckhart, International Organisation for Standardization (ISO/CEN)
  • Peter Nickel International Social Security Association (ISSA), International Prevention Section on Machine and System Safety

FFES Logo

Duration: 90 mins

The goal of this online webinar is to present and discuss the EU Machinery directive

  • Its application
  • The specific rules such as « forecast the forecastable misuse… »
  • Its utility for designing working situations

Webinar Chair: Bernard Michez, president of FEES

Zoom link for registration. Registration is free to all interested people. The webinar will be recorded and published on YouTube. Registration permits live interaction with the presenters via Q&A. Register for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register for this webinar.

Musculoskeletal health promotion starts at school

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According to EU-OSHA, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in children and young people and young workers are worryingly high. Involving schools in occupational safety and health issues can help prevent this. Integrating safety and health in education is essential in developing a culture of prevention for students.

A new report offers approaches to ‘health-promoting schools’ and examples of good practices in Europe to get people moving and prevent MSDs. The report presents success factors and obstacles and examines how schools can contribute to long-term prevention early on.

Read the report Better Schools by Promoting Musculoskeletal Health

Learn more: