BEMIDJI, Minn. - Dr. Vince Vohnout will present the program "Ergonomics in the Workplace: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You" at 11:30 a.m. March 18 in the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation (CRI), located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North.
A fee of $25 will be charged to cover the price of materials and the cost of lunch during the 90-minute session, which is presented as part of a Northern Minnesota Safety Council series on safety issues. Advanced registration at least two days prior to the event is required.
Vohnout describes ergonomics as the study of the manual work tasks of humans, including the consideration of posture control of sedentary workers. During the program, he will outline the importance of how an understanding of ergonomics in a business, production facility, or office setting can protect employees and benefit an organization's viability.
"Any business that has employees risks loss of productivity and increased operating expenses if their employees work environment is not evaluated to identify existing and potential ergonomic problems," said Vohnout, who is an associate professor in the BSU Department of Technological Studies.
"Workplace safety is not just the avoidance of major trauma events but also the minimization of injuries related to repetitive motions and poor posture, which can be active long before symptoms are reported by the worker. Workplace injuries are costly to employers in many ways besides direct insurance claims, including loss of productivity, employee morale, and reputation as a desirable workplace."
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in a recent 10-year study that the most severe ergonomic injuries could cost $100,000 or more in medical expenses, lost-time benefits, disability ratings and potential liability. The study noted that a few cases could potentially affect a company's profitability and ability to remain in business.
Vohnout joined the BSU faculty in 2006 after a career business, which included co-founding Adaptive Machine Technologies (AMT), an engineering research and development company in Columbus, Ohio. He served as president of AMT for nine years before returning to The Ohio State University to complete a doctorate degree.
As part of his doctoral work, he studied human factors and cognitive engineering with a group of faculty that founded the Ohio State Institute for Ergonomics. He holds a master?s degree in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in industrial engineering, both from OSU.
Sponsored by the CRI and the Northern Minnesota Safety Council, the session is part of a series that features experts on topics relating to safety from around the state. Programs are scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month.
Groups on the Bemidji Area Safety Council helping support and organize the presentations include Bi-County CAP, Beltrami County, North Central Door Company, Potlatch, and Tri-Valley.
Formed in 1997, the Center for Research and Innovation is an off-campus facility operated by Bemidji State University to assist businesses, organizations and individuals in gaining new knowledge, achieving applied experience, and improving successes. The CRI annually serves more than 2500 individuals and 400 businesses by providing corporate and custom training, delivering non-credit online learning, creating multimedia solutions, offering strategic organizational development, and coordinating regular informational programs in such areas as natural resources and work safety.
Individuals who would like to be added to the mailing list for the series or want more information may contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; email, cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at the Web site www.cri-bsu.org.