Ergonomics Event Draws Top Names
A host of well-known ergonomics experts are heading to Las Vegas next month to help attendees prosper when the economy improves.
- By Jerry Laws
- Oct 02, 2009
The 15th Annual National Ergonomics Conference
and Exposition will
take place Nov. 17-20 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas,
with its focus directed at helping businesses
survive the downturn and prosper as the economy improves.
Five educational tracks are featured (Program
Management, Office Ergonomics, Industrial Ergonomics
& Material Handling, Healthcare & Lab Ergonomics,
and Design for the Aging & Diverse Workforce).
Organizers say the event is the largest U.S. ergonomics
event of the year and is the best opportunity to learn
how ergonomics will:
- protect a scaled-back, aging workforce
- improve safety, efficiency, morale, and productivity
- reduce absenteeism and worker’s comp costs, and
- boost profitability.
"The speaker faculty knows that it’s all hands on
deck at every workplace in the nation. Th ose coping
with scaled-back workforces must ensure that their most
valuable resource is able to work safely and at peak capacity.
The faculty is prepared to share their secrets to
ergonomics success for any budget, in any type of workplace,"
said Walter Charnizon, president of Continental
Exhibitions, Inc., the event’s owners/producers.
Keynotes and Educational Program
Keynote speakers are Frank Maguire, a founder and
former senior vice president of FedEx (10:15-11:15 a.m.
Nov. 18); (9:45-10:45 a.m. Nov. 19); Dr. Brent Pawlecki,
corporate medical director for Pitney Bowes, who will
discuss its ergonomics and wellness programs; and David
Cochran, Ph.D., PE, CPE, professor in the Industrial
and Management Systems Engineering Department
at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will deliver
the 5th Annual State of the Industry Address (9:45-
10:45 a.m. Nov. 20).
This event features a who’s who of ergonomics leaders,
several of whom have held leadership positions at
the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The long
list of speakers includes these names:
- Mark Benden, CPE, Ph.D., professor of Ergonomics
at the Texas A&M Health Science Center
- David Brodie, MS, CPE, director of Ergonomics Services
for Atlas Ergonomics, vice chairperson for the
Ergonomics Branch of Industrial Hygiene Specialty
Group, a practice specialty of the ASSE, and a BCPE
director
- Peter Budnick, Ph.D., BS, MSE, CPE, president and
CEO of Ergoweb, Inc.
- Jerome Congleton, Ph.D., PE, CPE, professor in the
Safety & Engineering Program of Texas A&M University
- Woody Dwyer, MS, CPE, CIE, senior ergonomics
specialist for Travelers and a member of its Human
Factors and Ergonomics unit
- Arun Garg, CPE, Ph.D., professor, chair of the Industrial
& Manufacturing Engineering Department, and
director of the Center for Ergonomics at the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Camille Major, BSIE, MSIE, MBA, ergonomics specialist
with Raytheon Company
Attendees who hold a certification with ABIH and
BCSP will qualify for certification maintenance, and
BCPE testing will take place Nov. 16 at Caesars Palace.
Registering by Oct. 11 secures a savings of up to $250,
according to Continental. The conference program and
other information are available at www.ErgoExpo.com.
Workshops and Expo
Exhibitors will be demonstrating ergonomic seating,
computer accessories, material handling equipment,
lighting, software, consulting services, training, lifts, and
office productivity solutions. The expo will be open from
11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and also 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov.
18 (the latter session is a networking reception); 11:15
a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and also 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 (the
afternoon portion is another networking reception); and
10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Nov. 20.
Full-day and half-day workshops are scheduled for
Nov. 17.
This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
About the Author
Jerry Laws is Editor of Occupational Health & Safety magazine, which is owned by 1105 Media Inc.