The Central Florida Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) will host a one-day ergonomics conference on November 4, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. The purpose of the conference is to help business leaders develop proactive ergonomic programs and practices within their workplaces to identify and reduce the risk factors that result in often debilitating musculoskeletal injuries.
Musculoskeletal injuries that damage the body’s connective tissues — muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage and spinal discs — accounted for 29% of all workplace injuries in 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That year more than 335,000 musculoskeletal injuries required an average work absence of 9 days, more than 4 times the average 2-day absence required by most workplace injuries. When incorporated in equipment design and the development of workplace procedures, ergonomics has been proven to significantly reduce the risk and incidence of musculoskeletal injury.
“Ergonomics affects virtually every aspect of the safety profession, from machine use to construction safety to office set-up,” ASSE Central Florida Chapter President Jeff Spackman told OH&S (Occupational Health & Safety) online. “As an ASSE chapter, we do everything possible to be of the greatest value to our members who are committed to protecting people, property, and the environment. We felt holding a development conference on this very important topic would be of the greatest value to the greatest number of our members.”
The November conference will feature two general and four concurrent sessions covering ergonomic design and practices in various settings, including industrial, construction, workstation and office. Worker’s compensation issues, injury prevention and rehabilitation will also be addressed. The keynote address will be presented by Isabel Perry, Ph. D., president of TheSafetyDoctor.com. Among other scheduled speakers are Daniel McCune, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University safety director; Eric Austin, Amerisure Insurance senior loss control consultant; Ronald Porter, director of Back School of Atlanta; and Michael Belcher, ASSE Region IV VP and director of safety at DS Waters of America.