DOE JGI at Ergo Cup 2012 -- The Importance of Early Ergo Evaluations

The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) highlights the importance of making ergonomics a part of the work and safety culture in their bid for another Ergo Cup at the 15th Annual Applied Ergonomics Conference held March 26-29, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn.

With the entry "In the Beginning, there IS Ergo" for the Ergonomic Program Improvement Initiatives category, the DOE JGI team showcases the Lean Six Sigma driven-approach to strategic planning that has led to ergonomics being incorporated earlier upstream into new employee orientation and new technology implementation procedures.

Ergonomics is the science of designing optimal equipment and practices to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. Presented by the Institute of Industrial Engineers, the Ergo Cup highlights ergonomic innovations from institutions and multinational corporations. For further information, visit http://www.iienet2.org/Ergo/Conference/Default.aspx.

Since 2005, the DOE JGI has focused on the application of genomics to bioenergy and environmental issues. As employees routinely perform highly repetitive tasks both in the laboratory and in the office, the DOE JGI has an onsite ergonomist who works with staffers to develop ergonomic solutions suited to each worker and the surrounding work environment. More information about the DOE JGI Ergonomics Program is available at http://www.jgi.doe.gov/whoweare/ergonomics/index.html

In 2007, the DOE JGI won the Ergo Cup for its team-driven workplace solutions category entry. The Shake 'N Plate instrument was designed to ease upper body fatigue for employees working on the Sanger sequencing production line that were manually processing large plates of bacterial cultures. In 2010, the DOE JGI won again for its entry, "Empowering Employees in Ergonomics" in the Ergonomic Program Improvement Initiatives category.

Provided by DOE/Joint Genome Institute