Nominations are now being accepted for MHealthy’s annual Ergonomics Awards. Any university faculty or staff member can nominate a university unit or employee that has made the workplace safer by implementing ergonomic solutions.
Ergonomics is the science of fitting the workplace to the worker, often resulting in the promotion of safety, health, productivity and job satisfaction.
Department Ergo Awards
Applications for department-level awards can be submitted through March 31. These awards recognize university units that have independently created a safer, healthier and more efficient work environment by decreasing ergonomic risk factors and reducing or preventing employee discomfort.
To qualify, a department or unit must have implemented the ergonomic solution during 2014. Entries will be judged based on the significance of the ergonomic issue and the success of the ergonomic solution.
“Our team is looking for university units that are making large or small ergonomic improvements that have led to safer work methods, work processes and higher employee satisfaction,” says Suzanne Bade, MHealthy Ergonomics program chair and senior ergonomics consultant.
Winners will be notified in May. Gold-level winners will receive a special plaque and a celebration sponsored by MHealthy.
Individual Ergo Hero Awards
Nominations can be submitted year-round for an Individual Ergo Hero Award, which recognizes any regular faculty or staff member who is independently reducing the chance of discomfort or other ergonomic risks by using recommended postures, work strategies or equipment.
The Ergonomics Awareness Team also encourages nominating managers, supervisors and other university leaders who support staff by applying ergonomic solutions in the workplace.
The application takes five minutes to complete and all appropriate nominees are recognized the next month with an Ergo Hero lapel pin and a congratulatory certificate.
“The goal of our individual award is to recognize and thank those who are making an effort to improve employee comfort and safety in the workplace,” Bade says. “No change is too small.”
