ergonomics News

SC High Court Strikes ‘Troubling’ Denial of Comp Claim, Says Can’t Be Based on Stats

An employer cannot use an ergonomics report, showing that a work injury is statistically unlikely, to deny a workers’ compensation claim, the South Carolina Supreme Court said this week in an opinion that sharply questioned an appellate panel’s decision making. …

Travelers Offers Artificial Intelligence for Companies to Assess Worker Safety

The Travelers Companies said it has started using artificial intelligence to offer business customers virtual and onsite ergonomic assessments. Travelers claims to be the first insurance carrier to provide the service. According to the insurer, the new offering combines AI-based …

Q&A: MEMIC Safety Expert on Growth of Ergonomics, Workers’ Comp

Karl Siegfried, Senior Vice President of Loss Control & Safety Services at Portland, Maine-headquartered MEMIC Group recently spoke with Insurance Journal about the safety management team that is in place at MEMIC and the ways in which it seeks to …

Cobots: Making It Safe for Humans, Robots to Work Side-by-Side

In June this year a robot crushed a man to death in a Volkswagen factory in Germany. The 22-year-old maintenance worker became trapped between a large robotic arm and a metal plate, in an area usually off-bounds to humans. The …

Michigan Nixes Strict Workplace Ergonomics Rule

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a bill to prevent state-level administrative rules mandating workplace ergonomics. Ergonomics aims to limit injuries caused by lifting, repetitive motion and awkward work positions. The previous administration of Gov. Jennifer Granholm worked on ergonomics …

Michigan Senate Approves Bill Banning Mandatory Ergonomics Rules

The Michigan Senate has approved a bill that would prevent administrative rules mandating workplace ergonomics rules. The bill from Republican Sen. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge was approved by a 25-12 vote last Thursday and now heads to the House. …