de: consult-art@fibertel.com.ar>
para: sesmt@yahoogrupos.com.br,
fecha: 19 de mayo de 2009 18:27
asunto: [SESOMA] Fw: Workplace Ergonomics Design and Dynamics Newsletter n° 31 April May 2009
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----- Original Message -----
From: AMT Ergonoma
To: 6402_utilen@ergonoma.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 1:36 PM
Subject: Workplace Ergonomics Design and Dynamics Newsletter n° 31 April May 2009
Ergonomie Design et Dynamique du poste de travail
Newsletter n° 31 April May 2009
sent to 25395 e-mail addresses in 145 countries worldwide
This information and technological watch newsletter, written by a team of independent journalists, has no commercial tie whatsoever
A small reminder about the aim of E2D e-newsletter : being a letter of introduction to products, processes and services, aimed at improving living conditions at the workplace, whether in industry, services, administrations and communities, or the independent sectors and all liberal and professional occupations combined, for an healthy productivity: in a word, in our daily life. What we are trying to do every month, by conviction and by personal belief is to show you by example the innovations around the world, marriage between experts in human sciences from sociology , anthropology, ergonomics and health and design experts from industrial design and engineering business. All basing themselves on the understanding of user’s behaviour to promote optimization and innovation of products and services. Our freedom of choice and our eclecticism are free from any advertising considerations. Your loyalty to read us and to spread around our letter is our sole satisfaction.
1 - A new saddle seat closest to the promenade saddle bike than to riding. Discovered at the Furniture Fair in Stockholm, it is the "Back App " from Norwegian Backapp. It is so innovative and "resting" that it well deserved Ergonoma Journal front cover. You can see it, the saddle seat with the small red ball. Its seat is a little wider, comfortable but firm and fully assist the pelvis, the slightly wider seat edge fully maintains the base of the spine for better lumbar repositioning. The height is adjustable and smoothly adapts to all leg lengths, allowing to position the feet flat on the footrest mounted on a circular foam pad. And the little red ball, you may ask, what is its use? To adjust the imbalance of the chair. The lower you set it, the greater the imbalance. We recommend starting with the red ball on high, and to move down gradually, which putting you in search of balance, stimulates the major muscles of your back: now you know everything. "The Back App seat will provide a dynamic sitting position that increases the blood flow and has both preventive and soothing impact on back pain. - Our surveys show that most of our customers use their Back App at work, and as much as 80% have experienced a positive health effect by sitting on the chair. This shows that the Back App chair can contribute to a more ergonomic work environment” says Freddy Johnsen.
www.backapp.eu
2 – European campaign : Healthy workplaces. At a reception on 17 March in Brussels, EU-Commissioner Vladimír Špidla and EU-OSHA Director Jukka Takala honoured the 33 official campaign partners for their engagement in the risk assessment campaign.
The same day, over 70 representatives from organisations and companies, interested in becoming campaign partners, saw the 2008 campaign results and activities planned for 2009. They also learnt how to become an official campaign partner and heard about the experiences and benefits of those already engaged.
osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008
3 - At the office, how to get down three floors in seven seconds without a lift?: by installing a "water park" type slide. This exists in England at Sheffield. The 26 meters long slide, (installed in the "Sheffield Electric Works" office complex), realized by designer Toby Hyam, is made of steel and plastic. It allows to get employees from the third floor, an altitude of 12 meters in 7 seconds, to the ground floor A fun way to move these professionals used to be riveted to "their mouse and their screens” and make them smile. Also a good way to communicate on the inventiveness of this office complex housing ICT design, technology and creative media offices. A person in charge of "coming" traffic has been hired to ensure a secure flow of runs.
www.electric-works.net (« Healthy Workplaces » Campaign: osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008 )
4- Some blue sky in the ambient pessimism: French ICOM distinguished beginning of March 2009 by AFNOR for its overall commitment to Sustainable Development. Its headquarters, based in Toulouse, is a building built according High Environmental Quality (HQE ®) approach with a wooden frame - low consumption lighting - geothermal heating and cooling - natural insulation (cellulose wadding + hemp). It is already the first and only communication agency in France PEFC ™certified, and goes further in its approach and is now ranking the 4th French company (all activities included) according to the 1000 NR evaluation conducted by AFNOR Certification. Conducted last November, this new evaluation endorses the work done by the agency since 2001. ICOM claims its social responsibility: 22% of employees are shareholders and own nearly 80% of the shares of the company. All employees participated in the development of its three business projects (Cap 2005, 2010 and Archidurable Convergence ® 2012). The choice of suppliers that themselves are engaged in responsible and sustainable development and the support to other providers in their improvement or certification efforts. The logistical and financial support givento employees on solidary leave (two employees have made voluntary assignments in Patagonia in 2008 and Benin in 2009). The intergenerational mixing is possible: 31% of employees are under 30 years old, 17% of employees are over 50 years. Equal pay for men and women having the same responsibilities.
www.icom-com.fr
5- Another good news confirming the contents of the editorial in the latest issue of Ergonoma Journal (European Bilingual English / french magazine for Wellness and ergonomics at the workplace) which features five company cases related to the European campaign "Healthy Workplaces, Good for you, Good for Your business": On March 12, the French Federation of Vehicle equipment Industries and ARACT (French associations for the betterment of working conditions) from five French regions: Champagne-Ardenne, Haute-Normandie, Ile - de-France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie, presented at a seminar about measures implemented by the industry. a day of meetings to explore employability, ergonomics and prevention issues in these trades that are unattractive for young people. Several companies in this sector "emptied" of their interim employees must cope with the available permanent staff. Too many skill restrictions and a headache is guaranteed, because you cannot rotate the staff in different positions anymore, nor replace it. Therefore, the period is good to invest in health and safety of employees. "Autoliv France" based in Gournay en Bray, Seine-Maritime, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer, based in Stockholm. This passive safety equipment for automobiles (airbags, seatbelts, electronic control units ...) manufacturer, has decided to involve an ergonomist to study a proposed change in the design and assembly of airbag brackets, aiming to eliminate musculoskeletal disorders occurring among operators. A project led according to Toyota Kaizen methodology. The contribution of the ergonomist, who characterized and pinpointed the feelings of the operators, is considered as the main success factor of the project.
www.anact.fr (« Healthy Workplaces » Campaign: osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008 )
6 - The Handshoemouse by Dutch Hippus. Still as beautiful to the eye, especially in its "white dress". Contractures are no longer there and work becomes natural, moreover, now it is wireless and in 3 sizes: brilliant! (the battery is charged with USB plug) we can use it on our laptop on the move more easily. And as usual, there is always the right size. Here's how to avoid errors in size: measure the inside of your hand up from the wrist (the intersection between the hand and arm) to the tip of the ring finger, this length gives an indication of the size required. Length of less than 170mm, take small, approx 170mm to 190mm take average size, more than 190mm take large.
www.handshoemouse.com
7 - Intelligent and energy producer sunscreen: the first photovoltaic awning was presented in preview at the R + T fair in Stuttgart. Rollable, this smart and power generating sun protection is a 100% French production signed Dickson, (Since 1998, the Dickson group, founded in 1880 by the Gan family, is directly linked to Glen Raven American group, the leader in technical textiles) . Manufacturer of technical and outdoor textiles, in partnership with Somfy, Dickson aims at reducing building energy costs while respecting its architectural beauty. How does it work? Lightweight (900g / m²) and ultrafine (<1mm) photovoltaic cells are made from amorphous silicon. Yield: 4% for a twenty years guaranteed life span. They are integrated directly to the awning fabric. This characteristic allows the awning to remain flexible and thus rollable. The equipment is completed by the winding motor, an uninterruptible power supply to inject energy to the grid, and the transmission system. The pinnacle of this system is that it is also intelligent. The engine, in the heart of the system, operates in fact the awning to take advantage of the light photons and increase the profitability of the system, and rewinds it during windy episodes. It also takes into account the temperature, which is always greater than 2 ° C during manipulations, to avoid potential frost harm. Connected to the network, these stores may allow the resale of electricity to traders with a scheduled profit return in seven years based on French tariffs. Commercialization is scheduled for 2010. The canvas will be offered at a rate of about 2 times that of a classical mid-range canvas awning (this product is not yet referenced).
www.dickson-groupe.com
8 - Lei by Swedish Office Line, a « sexist » or a privilege chair? Monica Förster has designed Lei, an office chair developed and adapted specifically for women. The chair is a result of a lengthy study on female sitting posture. It offers support for the lumbar vertebrae and the curve of the spine. The specifications were defined by Office Line and ergonomist Ellen Wheatley. For 'lei' Förster used elastic and pressure-relieving fabric created by Kvadrat. The 'lei' office chair is available in lemon, burgundy, dark pigeon blue and warm grey.
www.officeline.se
9- Going from "earning more" to "be better" is now even more valid. Not to ask science to make us go faster, but to get us better, this is the idea of French ZYKEN creator of NightCove, a sleep accompanying system developed in collaboration with Patrick Jouin, an international repute designer and Professor Damien Léger, internationally recognized scientific sleep expert. We have already presented this product at its release in 2007. Aimed at luxury hotels, their business customers suffering regularly of displaced working hours and jetlag will consider the NightCove sleep accompanying programme as the ideal partner for their hotel nights. Now, with an hotel information system connecting option, the NightCove can be programmed from the desk right according to the client's needs. NightCove Programs (sleep, wake up, nap, relax, ..) can also be fully preregistered for regular customers .. Moreover, it is a product that also enables architects and designers to participate in the wellness revolution of the bedroom.
www.zyken.com
10 - Reading: Sustainable development is a real lever for performance, and helps to improve economic and financial efficiency of companies. Just released, 26/03/2009: « Le guide du développement durable en entreprise » by Patrick Widloecher and Isabella Querne - Publishers: Editions d'Organisation, 1st edition - 302 pages - Size: 15 x 22.5 - EAN13: 9782212543117 - Price: 28,00 € -. It provides clear guidance to implement and achieve sustainable development in the company. It takes into account environmental but also economic, social and societal aspects, highlights examples of companies that have successfully gone this way, and offers tools to measure its impact.
www.eyrolles.com
11 – An example to be followed : the « Wellness day » : A day dedicated to "wellness" by Partenamut Belgian mutual fund, independent from political organizations, with 460,000 customers, assisting its members in maintaining their health capital. According to various studies conducted by the Belgian Ministry of Health, the physical activity of employees of a firm determines its performance. Therefore, exercise and regular physical activity helps to improve employee productivity (between 5.6% and 12.5%) to improve its decision making capacity (70%), reduce absenteeism (-22 % to 30%), reduce turnover (-8%), injuries at work (and the number of employees compensated), improves patience, relaxation, cooperation and satisfaction (7%). A day dedicated to "wellness" that meets the growing demand of human resource managers: it provides broader and more varied services in the same day. The Partenamut Wellness Day fits 2 objectives: "To train and relax" or "Living the company's strategy." The advantages: the very concept of this customized "wellness day", inside or outside the company, saving organizing time, satisfies a large number of participants. The offer is wide and varied, with high quality speakers. Partenamut also proposes to install on the company car park a “MobilOforme” inside which registered employees can devote an hour to their health and to live an important moment for themselves - (measuring waist, size, fat rate, BMI, doing physical fitness tests on bicycle (6min), strength manual test, flexibility test ... ) then based on the results, a personalized action program to improve (or maintain) the good shape will be established with an advisor.
www.partenamut.be
12 – A factory simulation training: To develop good reflexes is also essential to master the technique. 5 years after the creation of its innovative Lean Manufacturing production Systems installer activity, the French GéoLean, 40 people strong, with more than 8 million euros turnover, continues its development and launches its training activity perfectly in line with his vocation: "Learning by Doing". GéoLean decided to build a 1500m2 factory in which everything is possible. In this “Doing Center”, the most critical situations can be experienced as well as their consequences: a line break for failure to supply an out of stock part, , synchronization incidents between the main chain and intermediary chains; problems on a post... Being in a real manufacturing situation, the trainees can learn to solve concrete problems. They can also view and compare the before and after, ie the consequences of a traditional organization and those of a Lean organization. The program highlights behaviours that solve problems or avoid them: how to always have the right part at the right time, how to organize myself for an easy reach of my tools, how to save time in my moves, how to have a quick vision of flows ...? By putting trained people to address these issues, and asking them to find the solution by applying Lean principles, then they become aware of the importance of their conduct and discipline necessary for an optimal management of their stations.
www.geolean.com
13 - Radian, anti-Waste lighting. "Therefore, after having launched a large tender, the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) has selected Épure light systems to power its Headquarters in Angers. The role of Ademe: to reduce waste and preserve the earth. So naturally, they lead by example ... with the French Radian, Ademe took several choices: mobility and flexibility Épure lampposts are on bases, easy to move, with an adjustable presence detection: the switch is quickly forgotten and light is used properly; a light brightness detection: not to try and compete with the sun. a good light diffuser: the eye benefits of it, so does the mind, therefore the work. Result, Ademe does not even spend € 10 energy per workstation per year.
www.radian.fr (« Healthy Workplaces » Campaign: osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008 )
14- "In Search of .... environmental protection ", from Illiers Combray-in Eure et Loir, France. The French company Bio-Sorelia has been caring for 10 Years. The company manufactures natural cleaning products. Directed by Marc Duval, a chemist by training, he discovered that “Sapindus mukorossi”, a tree that grows in northern India and Nepal, and produces nuts, contains active substances, saponins. These nuts have an incredible washing and detergent power, 100% natural, they can be used for washing machines and cost less than many industrial detergents that are harmful to the environment. Bio-Sorelia markets twenty tons of these nuts per month.
www.Bio-Sorelia.com
15- Created to withstand without incident falls from a bike, capable of lifting more than 4 tons, Armalith is a peak aesthetic textile: just the the most resistant cloth of all times, developed by French company Esquad based in Castres. Five years of research were needed to develop it: ARMALITH is obtained by the unique assembling of a fiber reserved till now for special applications, military and offshore, with the most pleasant fiber: cotton. Exclusive blend, ARMALITH gathers all the qualities of denim: lightness, ventilation, hydrophilicity, washability. . . plus mechanical resistance to abrasion and tear, the whole while keeping comfort qualities. The applications are almost endless: protective clothing when using chainsaws for example. Currently there is already a t-shirt optimizing thermal body heat and sweatshirts with Wifi-proof anti-electromagnetic radiation hoods. The company has entrusted the weaving of Armalith to Mazametan company Jules Tournier et Fils. To develop these fibers, Esquad held talks with EADS, Thales and Toulouse Icam engineering school. "These partnerships allow us to develop some studies, said Esquad director Pierre-Henry Servajean. Issues managed by the aeronautics and space industries are similar to ours: to manage the heating, the tears ... In the end, Armalith is clearly resistant (pants bear a 4 tons weight (the equivalent of a big 4x4 ) and has the qualities of denim: lightness, ventilation, hydrophilicity, washability, and so on. The aesthetic aspect was not forgotten. we equip media professionals, known stunt as Remi Julienne. We shall then go to the purists, before the democratization of our products”. Armalith pants cost between 200 and 300 euros each.
www.esquad.fr
16- "Hearing" glasses, to downplay bad hearing. In business, the obsession of hard of hearing people is "Do not get caught” .. . According to AFIDEO, the French association of hard of hearing people, nearly 6 million people in France are deaf or hard of hearing, to varying degrees, i. e. 10% of the French population. Be they deaf or light hard of hearing, many managers prefer to keep their disability a secret. The curse of the impaired hearing person is that he or she cannot hear except in the calm. For some, ordinary meetings quickly turn into a nightmare. French Grand Audition, specialist in hearing aids, encroaches on opticians’ territory by selling glasses. But not to change jobs just having the hearing apparatus disappearing by incorporating it into the arms of glasses, in addition, to wear glasses "looks" serious. This "2 in 1 technology combines the performance of an edge digital hearing aid to the elegance of the most beautiful eyeglass frames ... Its secret? A miniaturized hearing solution, discreetly hidden in the glasses arms. This new hearing aid is custom made. Finely inlaid in the glasses arms, it is completely unnoticeable.
www.grandaudition.com
17- A real energy saving lamp: FLUOLUM 3228 by French LUM SAS (specializing since 1946 in manufacturing and distributing mobile lighting systems for office spaces) optimizes lighting power consumption. Ahead of the RT 2005 requirements and consistent with HQE (high environmental quality), this lamp post, in operation, consums on average less than 2 W per lighted m². This performance results from the combination of an optimum allocation of direct and indirect flows, the lamp optics, the use of the latest generation in lamps and ballasts, and of the luminous flux electronic management system (presence detection and automatic flow variation). LUM is "Godfather" of the European GreenLight program on energy saving. GREENLIGHT program was launched on February 7, 2000 by the General Directorate for Energy and Transport (DG TREN) of the European Commission. It is supported in 14 EU countries by energy agencies, including the ADEME in France. It has over 300 Partners and over 150 sponsors.
www.lum.fr
18- Net increase in attendance, 30%, for the 5th ENERGIVIE Event- National Low Consumption building meeting - which took place from April 15 to 17, 2009, at the Parc des Expositions in Mulhouse. Unique case in France, only the best performing products on the market were accepted to be presented at this tradeshow. A selection committee composed of members of ADEME (French Energy Saving Agency), the Alsace Region, INSA Strasbourg, the ALME and Mulhouse Chamber of Commerce and industry reserved the right to refuse any exhibitor or product that are not considered meeting the tradeshow objectives. Audits took place during the event, which closed one stand and had three products not satisfying the requirements of low consumption buildings withdrawn. The event was concluded by the presentation of ENERGIVIE trophies designed to highlight outstanding facilities both technically and in terms of the process that led or accompanied their implementation. These Trophies reward owners (private owners, local authorities, social landlords ...) owners of a collective installation using renewable energy, commissioned in 2008: private wood heating equipment, a 300 kilowatts wood boiler including buildings housing young disabled, 1 administrative building and an education building; public wood heating equipment, 10 communal buildings + 1 retirement home: 360 kW platelets wood boiler. Solar private equipment, a 100 kW wood boiler linking a group of 6 dwellings and 3 houses, 24 m² solar water heater for a group of 6 houses and a dwelling house with 2 apartments, integrated solar photovoltaics roof for a group of 6 dwellings.
www.terredinfo.fr
19- New members for SYNAMAP (French prevention and protection actors professional Union) in very different sectors: Paul Boyé Technologies, Protective clothing with 4 factories and 750 employees, the company offers design, manufacture and marketing of Category 3 personal protective equipment (PPE). Deltalyo & Valmy, Respiratory Protection, a manufacturer of respiratory protective masks and medical consumables, and distributor of protection solutions for businesses at risk in industry, construction, bodywork, hygiene and health . DSM Dyneema, Protective gloves, manufacturer of technical fibers and anti-cut protection specialist. Vertical Formation Protection against falls from height, specializing in vertical and fall protection, helps companies address harness wearing issues of PPE use against falls from height. Everyone, according to its expertise, enriches a specific technical board. An inescapable player in the French field of prevention and protection of the man at work, SYNAMAP regularly strengthens its audience and its representativeness.
www.synamap.fr
20- Each year around the world, 2.2 million men die from accidents and occupational diseases, 270 million people are victims of occupational accidents and 160 non-fatal million new cases of work-related diseases are counted, this is an estimate by the International Labor Office (ILO). The World Day for Safety and Health at Work was held this April 28, in the context of a new call from the International Labor Office (ILO) for a risk management at work that reduces both the economic and social burden posed by human industrial accidents and occupational diseases. This day aimed to attract worldwide attention on the promotion and creation of decent and safe jobs and to reduce the number of deaths at work. In a new report issued on this occasion "My life, my work, my safe work: Managing risk at the workplace”, ILO inventoried management techniques that identify, anticipate and assess hazards and risks and take initiatives to control and reduce them. ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia, said: "Millions of accidents, injuries and illnesses cost an annual toll on human lives, businesses, economy and environment. We know that in assessing the risks and hazards, combating them at source and promoting a culture of prevention, we can significantly reduce illnesses and injuries.”
www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm
21 -. Should we get rid of the “drinks” business? 47% of work fatalities are work-related road accidents. Alcohol is involved in 29% of fatal road accidents: these are the results of a French poll published at the end of 2008 and rather kept a secret. Throughout the year, many employees are celebrating their professional and personal life events at their workplace.
These drinks are often organized with a glass of alcohol that employees have before hitting the road. These practices can endanger their lives and engage in the event of an accident, the company’s, the entrepreneur, even one of the managers’ civil and criminal liability. Business leaders have a duty of safekeeping their employees (French Labor Code, Social Modernization Act). This obligation extends to road risk: consumption of alcohol at the workplace engages the entrepreneur’s civil and criminal liability in case of accidents, both during the missions undertaken for the company and during the journey between home and work. The accident while journeying home-work is considered to be a work accident: it is the entrepreneur’s duty to take the necessary steps to avoid endangering its employees’ safety.
An IFOP poll conducted in France for PSRE * just updated the extent of this phenomenon: The survey was conducted both with employees and entrepreneurs. Produced from November27 to 28, 2008 among a sample of 458 employees representing the French population, and among a sample of 401 business leaders representing industrial sectors, construction, trade and services companies:
Over 90% of French employees participate in drinks at the workplace.
70% of drinks include alcohol (in 25% of cases it is hard liquor).
58% of the companies concerned have taken no action in this respect.
91% of executives involved do not prohibit the organization of drinks with alcohol.
19% of employees have been confronted with incidents of verbal abuse, aggressive behavior and traffic accidents.
* French PSRE association (Monitoring and Promotion of Road Safety in Business) :"The road risk management in enterprises". PSRE brings together experts in road safety, companies in all professional sectors, road transport, communities , insurance companies and professional organizations. PSRE is a partner of public authorities (DSCR), French Federation of Insurance companies (FFSA), the French Federation of Insurers (AGEA). And many road safety proponents.
www.asso-psre.com
