Free dough for ERGO

If cost is the only thing keeping units from adopting good ergonomic practices or purchasing a piece of equipment that will help prevent work-related injuries, Michigan Healthy Community may have a solution through the Ergo Grant Incentive Program.

(Courtesy Michigan Healthy Community)

The incentive, part of the Enhanced Ergonomic Awareness Program, offers the chance for units to apply for funds to help establish a new ergonomics effort or enhance one already in place. And for those units that already have completed a solution to worrisome physical challenges in the workplace, the program also offers the chance to win an Effective Ergonomic Solutions Award.

Ergonomics is the science of designing and using equipment and processes that promote safe and healthy work practices. Strategies range from engineering appropriate equipment to the design of workflow to promoting and teaching techniques, such as safe lifting and the use of recommended postures.

"The incentive program seeks to encourage campus and health system units to reduce ergonomic risk factors. If there is a need to purchase equipment, conduct training or redesign work processes to maintain a safe, healthy and efficient work environment, we do not want a lack of funding to stand in the way," says Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer for U-M and director of the University Health Service. "At the same time, we want to recognize areas that already responded to our challenge to incorporate ergonomic practices into the work environment."

The Enhanced Ergonomic Awareness Program was started in March as part of the Michigan Healthy Community Initiative, a Universitywide effort to encourage healthier living through increased activity and attention to physical safety in the workplace. An ergonomic information campaign using posters, postcards and other means promoted the concept that making small changes in behavior could reduce workplace injuries significantly, ultimately leading to a healthier community. The "No-No, Ergo" images used in the spring to show the right and wrong way to move, lift and sit now have new elements: "Ergo Kudos and Free Dough," reflecting the incentive and award programs.

To be considered for the Ergo Grant Incentive Program, units can go to MHealthy.umich.edu between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 to submit an application. Funding requests are limited to $15,000. Entries will be judged based on the significance of the ergonomic issue, the feasibility of the project and the anticipated outcome.

Nominations for the Effective Ergo Solutions Award can come from anyone who is aware of a department that has added or modified equipment, offered training or redesigned work processes. The person does not have to be a member of the unit nominated. Units also may submit on their own behalf from Nov. 1-Dec. 31 through the MHealthy Web site.

To be eligible, units must have implemented their solutions between July 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2006. Entries will be judged by the overall significance of the ergonomic problem and the outcome of the intervention.

All three campuses and the University Health System can compete for the incentive and solution awards. Both will be judged by members of the of the Enhanced Ergonomics Awareness Team, which includes personnel from the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers Safety Management Services, MWorks, Occupational Safety and Environmental Health office in Ann Arbor, and the Environment, Health and Safety Offices in Flint and Dearborn.

Grant and award recipients will be announced March 15, 2007.