MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness Team launched its fifth annual ergonomics grants program Oct. 1.
Departments or units in need of financial help to purchase equipment or redesign work processes to solve ergonomic issues can receive up to $5,000 to implement solutions that make the work environment safer.
Ergonomics is the science of fitting the workplace to the worker, often resulting in the promotion of safety, health, productivity and job satisfaction.
“Creating a work environment that is ergonomically sound benefits everyone because it can reduce employee injuries and increase job satisfaction and productivity,” says Suzanne Bade, MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness Team chair and senior ergonomics consultant.
Applications will be judged based on the significance of the ergonomic issue, the feasibility of the project and the anticipated outcome. To help make grant dollars go further, MHealthy encourages recipients to share in the cost of the project by matching the grant amount.
“In order to help as many university areas as possible, we encourage departments to match grant funds when possible,” Bade says.
Grant applications are due by Oct. 31 for review in November; however, applications are online year round. If funds are available, a second review will occur in spring 2011.
Over the last five years, MHealthy’s ergonomics program has awarded grants to dozens of university departments and units. Below are winners from last year’s Ergo Grants program:
• Environmental Services
• Specialized Workforce for Acute Transport
• William L. Clements Library
• Academic Advising and Career Center, New Student Programs
• Administrative Information Management Services
• Biology, UM-Flint
• Cancer Center — Patient Education Program
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science, Engineering and Physics
• UM-Dearborn School of Education
• DSA-Housing-RDS
• Epidemiology
• Exhibit Museum
• Facilities Management
• UM-Flint Associate Provost
• Institutional Analysis
• Internal Medicine — Pulmonary
• ITS Campus Computing Sites
• Laundry
• LSA Newman Academic Advising Center
• Occupational Therapy
• UM-Flint Office of Financial Aid
• Pathology
• Periodontics and Oral Medicine
• UM-Flint Printing Services
• Work/Life Programs
To apply for an Ergo grant, go to www.hr.umich.edu/mhealthy/programs/ergonomics/grants_awards.html.
In addition to its grants and awards programs, the Ergonomics Awareness Team offers online resources such as tutorials and printable posters to promote healthy behaviors. Go to www.MHealthy.umich.edu/ergo for more information.
