New 'U' laboratory enhances ergonomics

The creation of a new laboratory in the University College of Engineering may benefit workers and companies by making the workplace a safer environment and decreasing lost wages and medical costs.

Johnson Chairprofessor in Ergonomics Don Chaffin, who led the effort to open the facility, said the new laboratory will analyze individual human movements and predict the human body's behavior in certain situations in the workplace.

"This project will focus on recognizing the human body as part of an overall system," Chaffin said. "It will visualize normal (body) movements as well as do biomechanical and ergonomic analysis of the movement."

With the new ergonomic data acquired in the lab, scientists can successfully anticipate how new products will affect the average worker. Ergonomics, a subset of Industrial Engineering, emphasizes the technical knowledge necessary to understand the body's performance in human-machine systems.

MATT MADILL/Daily The College of Engineering, located on the University's North Campus, has added a new laboratory to study ergonomics and benefit University students.

One of the project's goals is to find ways to avoid overexertion injuries in the workplace. The program will attempt to alleviate common job-related injuries which result from tasks such as improperly lifting heavy materials or continually typing on a keyboard, Chaffin said. Nationally, more than $100 billion is squandered in lost wages, medical benefits and other costs related to workplace injuries.

The College of Engineering has a long-standing tradition of studying ergonomics. In the '60s, scientists examined human movement in the Industrial Engineering sector at the University. In the '70s and '80s, the studies incorporated a new approach, aimed at physiology, anatomy and behavioral psychology.

Since its opening in 1980, the Center of Ergonomics has published numerous articles, ranging from the specifics of overexertions injuries to the description of movement which avoids such injuries. The new lab will continue the research by analyzing thousands of individual movements and programming computer software to predict human motion, Chaffin said.

Dean of Engineering Stephen Director said the lab's research will directly benefit University students.

"This lab will provide opportunities for research and for the education of students," Director said. "It will allow them to work on meaningful problems and build on strengths that they have."

The new lab has already received $300,000 a year in grants from industrial sponsors, including Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Johnson Controls and Navistar.

"Navistar is excited to apply the human movement information gained by the new lab at the University of Michigan," said R. David Price, a Navistar international representative.

LSA sophomore Stephanie Spears said she is hopeful that the University will benefit from future products.

"I've seen keyboards that are ergonomically correct," Spears said. "It's interesting to know that U of M engineers are working on creating more materials like that."

Engineering junior Hahn Kim said he doubts the project will be useful to the entire University. "This (lab) will aid the Department of Industrial Operations Engineering," Kim said. "A new lab in the field of ergonomics, a requirement in that field, is most definitely a benefit."

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