Ergonomics

Faculty, staff and students can prevent ergonomic related injuries by following best practices for working at desks, working in laboratories and for lifting and handling materials. Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) offers self-help resources, customized departmental training, and both individual and departmental level consultations to decrease discomfort/injury.

Office Based/Computer ergonomics:

  1. Self-help Resources
  2. Working From Home. EHS can conduct home office consultations via Zoom which take 30 minutes. Additional self-help resources are also available below.
  3. Seating Evaluations
    • EHS offers employees who have supervisory/management authorization the ability to schedule a custom seating evaluation.  During this visit, the employee sits in a variety of chairs which are adjusted (by the ergonomic professional) for fit and comfort.  The selected chair is then sent to the employee’s work location for a weeklong trial.  Once the loan period is over, the loaner chair returns to EHS and a recommendation for purchase is made. Please note that EHS has no funding to assist with the purchase of new chairs.
  4. Request Assistance

Group Training:

EHS offers customized group training for your department’s needs. This includes office/computer based ergonomics, work from home office ergonomics, laboratory ergonomics, material handling ergonomics and other topics as desired.  This training is available in person or virtually.

Request Group Training

Department Interventions:

EHS ergonomics assists departments reduce risk of injury. These interventions are often initiated by reported injuries or injury trends within the department. For example, if an employee/s reports injury or discomfort in a specific area of the body or if a particular work task results in employee reports of discomfort/injury, EHS ergonomics can assess and provide recommendations to reduce the risk.  

Examples:

  1. Several employees report discomfort moving storage boxes from one location to another
  2. A heavy piece of equipment needs to be moved up/downstairs
  3. Multiple reports of injuries have been reported putting trash into dumpsters

Request Department Intervention

Unsure of what you need?  Email EHSErgonomics@umich.edu

Laboratory  Ergonomics

Lifting and Material Handling Ergonomics

Skip to content