Departments and units that want to solve ergonomic issues can apply for a grant through the MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness Program through Oct. 31.
October is National Ergonomics Month, raising awareness of the importance of fitting the workplace to the worker. This can result in improved safety, health, productivity and job satisfaction.
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Any employee can apply on behalf of their area. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to help purchase equipment or redesign work processes. To help support more university areas, departments and units that receive a grant are encouraged to share in their project’s cost.
Applications are encouraged if any of the following apply to an area’s employees:
- Experiencing physical discomfort due to manually lifting, pushing, pulling or transporting equipment, objects or patients.
- Bending over, reaching up or performing awkward, repetitive motion for several hours during the workday.
- Experiencing physical stress or discomfort due to work equipment.
- Grants are awarded based on:
- Significance of the ergonomic issue.
- Feasibility of the project.
- Anticipated outcome.
Visit the MHealthy ergonomics website for more information on what projects will and will not be considered. Examples of past funded projects are also listed. The MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness team reviews all applications.
The team includes representatives from MHealthy; Environment, Health & Safety in Ann Arbor; UMHHC Safety Management Services; the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at UM-Dearborn; and Environment, Health and Safety at UM-Flint.
Mania Aghaei Meibodi
hi,
My team had expanded significantly this year and i would like to
https://dartlab.umich.edu/team/
I am writing to seek financial support to improve the working conditions and overall well-being of my team. Our team has recently expanded its members, and as a result, we were unable to buy everyone an adjustable table or office chairs that are suitable for long-time sitting. I have received several ergonomic complaints and have tried to address them but it is difficult without budget. The budget will be used to buy adjustable tables and office chairs. One of the researchers will need a shelf higher than his hip to store tools that he is constantly modifying and working with. These tools are a bit heavy and he has been repetitively bending over and manually lifting them (at least 8 times a day). he had previously experienced physical stress due to the lack of a shelf or stand in the height at which he could position these tools. He has to constantly modify and edit these separate tools per day and a shelf in his height across a wall would be very helpful.
Thank you
Mania Meibodi