WHAT: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) leaders and experts in the field of human factors and ergonomics are available and willing to serve as expert resources for creating more comfortable, safer, and more productive home-based work and school environments during these unprecedented times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are creative ways to establish ergonomic workspaces and practices to help avoid discomfort and injury due to increased home-based computer usage.
WHY: The number of people working and schooling from home is unprecedented. Worldwide, more than 1 billion children are estimated to be schooling from home. This situation presents unique ergonomics challenges that, prior to this pandemic, have not been envisioned, discussed, or addressed. And although general work-from-home ergonomic guidelines have existed for some time, the introduction of web conferencing as an all-day activity, coupled with shelter-in-place orders, imparts specific constraints and risks that require new ergonomic perspectives and methods. In the current situation a plethora of people are ill-prepared to work or school from home and have few resources to create ergonomic workspaces without needing to add new furniture.
As much of the world settles into a new at home routine during shelter in place orders, the public is interested in knowing how they can maintain healthy lifestyles - including creating a conducive workspace from home.
WHO:
- Susan Hallbeck, PhD, PE, CPE Mayo Clinic, HFES President
- Anthony D. Andre, PhD, CPE Interface Analysis Associates (IAA), HFES Member and Past-President HFES
- Kermit Davis, University of Miami, HFES Immediate Past President
- Michelle Robertson, PhD, CPE, Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC), HFES Member
- Alan Hedge, PhD, CPE, Humanuse, HFES Member
HFES leadership is available via email, phone and video interviews.
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About Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is the world’s largest scientific association for human factors/ergonomics professionals, with more than 4,500 members globally. Its mission is to promote the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of the systems and devices of all kinds. HFES members include psychologists and other scientists, designers, practitioners, and engineers, all of whom have a common interest in designing systems and equipment to be safe and effective for the people who operate and maintain them.
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