Tag: Belgium Ergonomics Society

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).

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!

Ergonomics Risk Assessment

info Leave a comment

National Congress of the Belgian Ergonomics Society

27 March 2014, Brussel

BesWeb

National Congress of the Belgian Ergonomics Society

27 March 2014, Brussel

BesWeb
Program (see attachment)
08.30 Accueil / Onthaal
09.00 Bienvenue / Welkom
Christian Deneve, Directeur Général de la DG Humanisation du travail, SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale
09.15 Introduction de la journée / Inleiding van de dag Veerle Hermans, European Ergonomist, nationaal voorzitster van BES
09.30 Alain Piette, Ergonome Européen, SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale
Président de la section francophone de la BES
Réflexions sur l’analyse des risques professionnels en Belgique et en Europe
10.00 Luc Van Hamme, Contrôle du Bien-être, SPF Emploi, Travail etConcertation sociale, L’inspection du travail et l’analyse des risques (en ergonomie)
10.30 Pause/Pauze
11.00 Jan Van Peteghem, Onderzoeker, HIVA – KuLeuven
De effectiviteit van interventies op ergonomisch vlak:
resultaten van een Belgisch onderzoek (2013)
11.30 Christophe Maes, Directeur de la gestion des risques CESI,
L’analyse des risques – attentes et demandes venant du terrain
12.00 Lunch
14.00 Kris De Bruyn, preventieadviseur, OCMW Antwerpen
Risicoanalyse ergonomie van de maaltijdbedeling
14.30 Aline Caes, Ingénieur civil des constructions, Ergonomics and Buildings, Infrabel
Conception d’un nouveau bâtiment destiné à la gestion du Trafic ferroviaire
15.00 Stephan Tomlow, Europees Ergonoom, Provikmo, BES
KB manueel hanteren van lasten: aanzet tot praktijkrichtlijn
15.30 Assemblée générale / Ledenvergadering Algemene
16.30 Afsluiting studiedag / Clôture de la journée

Occupational Diseases in the EU – The system(s) and their role / Way forward

info Leave a comment

Brussels, December 2013

European Commission – Employment, Social Affairs organised this ergonomics-related event. 
 European Commission logo 

Brussels, December 2013

European Commission – Employment, Social Affairs organised this ergonomics-related event. 
 European Commission logo 
Alain Piette, Secretary general of the Belgian Ergonomist Society had a presentation on “The burden of musculo-skeletal disorders (MSD)“
The work related
musculo-skeletal disorders (WRMSD) are well known by OSH specialists
and are defined by WHO (EU-OSHA 2010). The risk factors are many:
physical, organisational and individual. The increasing burden of MSD
is important and expensive not only for the workers but also for the
enterprises and for the society.

Many workers are
suffering from MSD as still shown by the last European Working
Condition Survey (EWCS) of 2010 (Eurofound): nearly one in two are
suffering of low back pain, four in ten of muscular pain in upper
limbs and one in three in lower limbs. MSD affect workers in all
sectors, men and women and are increasing with age. This EWCS 2010
shows that a lot of work constraints are existing with a high
percentage of workers exposed to these constraints, and especially to
biomechanical factors.

Even if it is
difficult for each enterprise to evaluate costs of MSD, these costs
are often very high and can be divided in direct cost (absenteeism,
loss of productivity and/or of quality, increasing of the workload
for the colleagues not yet suffering of a MSD…) and indirect costs
(loss of knowledge, of skills, turn-over…) which can be estimated
to 2 to 3 times the direct costs. For example, a report on
absenteeism in Belgium evaluates the cost of one absence day to 924€.
This report shows that the absenteeism is increasing more and more
each year, with on average 6 days of absence per worker and per day
for a total annual cost in Belgium estimated to 10.8 Billion €.

The costs for the
society are also very high and increasing: health care, disabled
people, occupational diseases compensation…Examples taken in
France, in Belgium and in Netherlands show the main part taken by MSD
in occupational diseases. From the EU-OSHA report 2010, MSD
represented nearly 40% of occupational diseases in Europe in 2005.

To help people and
especially the enterprises to realize this incredible burden of MSD
linked to the working conditions, we need a specific legislation to
give more visibility to MSD. But more essentially we need an European
OSH strategy to prevent MSD for the workers not yet affected, to
allow workers already suffering of MSD to stay longer at work but
also to help people to come back to work after a long absence due to
MSD. An ergonomic approach of the prevention ie a global approach of
all the risk factors, with the workers’ participation to better
adapt the working conditions seems the only solution to get an
effective MSD prevention.

Belgium Ergonomics Society

info Leave a comment

The Belgian Ergonomics Society (BES) was founded in 1986. Among the members were representatives of the Ministry of Work, University Professors and ergonomists in the field. Today, BES has 200 members.

Active FEES membership

President national:

Alain Piette
Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social dialogue
Rue E. Blérotstraat 1, 1070 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 233 46 28

Secretary national: Marianne De Troyer

Treasurer national: Caroline Pirotte

Contactperson FEES: Gaëtan Dusollier

IEA council member: Alain Piette

Web: http://www.besweb.be/

Objectives

To promote ergonomics in a multidisciplinary way by:

  • Promotion of the broad knowledge on human-machine relations in every possible way;
  • Distribution of the knowledge;
  • Promotion of scientific research regarding all possible domains of ergonomics;
  • Promotion of training and education in ergonomics;
  • Contacting other organisations and institutions interested in ergonomics;
  • Representing ergonomics in Belgium on national and international level;
  • Application of the procedures to become European Ergonomist cfr. CREE (Center for Registration of European Ergonomists).

Activities

Each year a workshop or seminar is organised on a national level for all members. Themes are in accordance with recent themes on safety and health.

  • Both the Flemish and French speaking wing of the society organise each year two events (e.g. company visit, seminar with young ergonomists, …).
  • BES takes part in the meetings organised on an international level (FEES, CREE, IEA).
  • Narrow contacts with other European societies (e.g. the Dutch society by cooperating with their journal).