President’s Newsletter No. 3
28 February 2010
Dear IEA Colleagues:
The year has gotten off to a productive start for the IEA Executive Committee. We
hope that yours has begun with good health and a bright outlook for the comingyear. I want to bring you up to date with our latest developments, news andopportunities from the IEA.
First Executive Committee meeting
In mid January our Executive Committee met for the first time in San Francisco inthe U.S. It provided a valuable opportunity to bring together an energetic andtalented team who represent the many interests of the IEA. Attendees included:
Secretary General Eric Wang (Taiwan), Treasurer Klaus Zink (Germany), StandingCommittee Chairs for Development and Promotion Ralph Bruder (Germany),
Industrial Development Barbara Silverstein (US), Professional Standards andEducation Yushi Fujita (Japan), Past President David Caple (Australia), 2012
Congress Chair Marcelo Soares (Brazil) and myself. Verna Blewett (Australia),
who chairs our Science Technology and Practice Standing Committee, participated
via Skype during her return trip from India.
In addition to learning about the roles and scope of the EC functions, we agreed
upon the priorities for our strategic goals. We agreed that the strategic goals definedby the IEA are indeed still relevant and that we believe the focus for this Executiveincludes:
A. Contribute to the development of federated societies
B. Advance the science and practice of ergonomics at an international level
C. Enhance the contribution of the ergonomic discipline to global society•
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All-Ukrainian Ergonomics
AssociationASEAN-ES
Asociación de Ergonomia
Argentina
Associação Brasileira deErgonomia
Asociación Ecuatoriana deErgonomia
Associação Portuguesa deErgonomia
Association of CanadianErgonomists

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Belgian Ergonomics Society
Chilean Ergonomics Society
Chinese Ergonomics Society
Croatian Ergonomics Society
Czech Ergonomic SocietyErgonomics Society of Korea
Ergonomics Society of Nigeria
Ergonomics Society of Serbia
Ergonomics Society ofSingapore
Ergonomics Society of South
AfricaErgonomics Society of Taiwan

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Ergonomics Society ofThailand
FEES
Gesellschaft fürArbeitswissenschaft
Hellenic Ergonomics Society
Hong Kong Ergonomics
Society
Human Ergology Society
Human Factors andErgonomics Society (U.S.A.)
Hungarian Ergonomics Society
Indian Society of Ergonomics

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Inter-Regional Ergonomics
AssociationInstitute of Ergonomics andHuman Factors (U.K.)
Iranian Ergonomics Society
Irish Ergonomics Society
Israel Ergonomics Society
Japan Ergonomics Society
Latvijas Ergonomikas Biedriba
Nederlandse Vereniging VoorErgonomie
New Zealand Ergonomics
Society
Nordic Ergonomics Society•
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Österreichische
Arbeitsgemeinschaft fürErgonomie
Perhimpunan Ergonomi
Indonesia
Philippines Ergonomics
Society
Polish Ergonomics Society
Slovak Ergonomics
AssociationSociedad Colombiana deErgonomia
Sociedad de Ergonomistas deMexico•
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Società Italiana di Ergonomia
Société d’Ergonomie deLangue Française
Société Tunisienned'Ergonomie
Spanish Association ofErgonomics
Swiss Ergonomics Society
The Human Factors andErgonomics Society ofAustralia
Turkish Ergonomics Society
ULAERGOThe IEA is registered as an association at the Commercial Register of Kanton Zurich, Switzerland: Company-Nr. CH020.6.001.285-4

Your IEA Executive Committee
Ralph Bruder, David Caple, Barbara Silverstein, Yushi Fujita, Marcelo Soares
Klaus Zink, Andy Imada, Eric Wang
IEA Governance Committee
The IEA Governance Committee continues its important work under the leadership of David Caple. The groupraised a range of noteworthy considerations for the future as this work lays an important foundation for future
work that will determine the form and functioning of the IEA. This committee is served by a talented group ofmembers: Jan Dul, The Netherlands (Past Development; Pierre Falzon, France (Past President); Kentaro Kotani,
Japan; Yair Lifshitz, Israel; Bill Marras, USA; Pieter Rookmaaker, The Netherlands (FEES Chair); Torunn
Sveinsdottir, Iceland; and Kan Zhang, China. We look forward to this committee’s recommendations.
IEA/Liberty Mutual Award
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Liberty Mutual Award. This is an international competition
that honors original research leading to the reduction or mitigation of work-related injuries and/or to theadvancement of theory, understanding, and development of occupational safety research. It is, in my opinion,
the most prestigious award in our field.
The IEA/Liberty Mutual Award in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics comes with a cash prize of US$10,000.
The deadline for submitting applications for this award is 31 May 2010. I encourage you to seriously consider
nominating deserving candidates. See the IEA website: http://www.iea.cc/browse.php?contID=awards.
Ergonomic Guidelines to be Published Soon
After many years of work from many dedicated individuals, the IEA and the International Commission on
Occupational Health (ICOH) is jointly publishing “Ergonomic Guidelines”. These guidelines are designed toassist personnel in the field of occupational health who have a limited knowledge of ergonomics. They outline
the process of identifying, assessing and controlling problems related to health and safety in the workplace.
The ultimate aim is that they can provide assistance in planning basic intervention strategies based on soundergonomics principles.
We are deeply indebted to then IEA and ICOH presidents Ian Noy and Jean-Francois Caillard for their leadership•
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All-Ukrainian Ergonomics
Association
Asociación Española De
Ergonomia
Asociación de Ergonomia
Argentina
Association of CanadianErgonomists
Belgian Ergonomics Society
Brazilian Ergonomics
Association•
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Chinese Ergonomics Society
Croatian Ergonomics Society
Czech ergonomic Society
Ergonomics Society (U.K.)
Ergonomics Society ofAustralia
Ergonomics Society of Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia
Ergonomics Society of Korea
Ergonomics Society of SouthAfrica

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Ergonomics Society of Taiwan
FEESGesellschaft fürArbeitswissenschaft
Hellenic Ergonomics Society
Hong Kong Ergonomics
Society
Human Factors andErgonomics Society (U.S.A.)
Hungarian Ergonomics Society
Italian Society of Ergonomics

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Inter-Regional Ergonomics
Association
Iranian Ergonomics Society
Irish Ergonomics Society
Israeli Ergonomics Society
Japan Ergonomics Society
Nederlandse Vereniging VoorErgonomie
New Zealand Ergonomics
Society
Nordic Ergonomic Society••••••Österreichischearbeitsgemeinschaft fürErgonomie
Polish Ergonomics SocietyAssociação Portuguesa deErgonomia
Slovak Ergonomics
Association
Sociedad Chilena deErgonomia
Sociedad Columbiana deErgonomia•••••••

Sociedad de Ergonomistas deMexico
Società Italiana di Ergonomia
Société d’Ergonomie deLangue FrançaiseSouth East Asia Ergonomics
SocietySwiss Society for Ergonomics
Turkish Ergonomics Society
ULAERGOto begin this process with a Memorandum of Understanding between our two organizations. Work began at theIEA Triennial Congress in San Diego in 2000 with a small group who discussed how to implement this project.
Kazutaka Kogi, Kazutaka Kogi, Barbara McPhee and Pat Scott made up the core group responsible for themajority of the development work. After many years of hard work and persistence and with the financial
support from ICOH, IEA, Institute for the Science of Labour in Japan and the Jim Knowles Group in Australia.
The printing of these Guidelines was supported by Ergonomia and the IAD Institute for Ergonomics from theUniversity of Technology Darmstadt in Germany. Thanks to the efforts of so many over the years, we arepleased to announce that these Ergonomic Guidelines will be available at 19 € or 25 USD. Check the IEA
website for details. http://www.iea.cc

Opportunities with IEA
Historian. Over the past six months I have had the pleasure of communicating with eight IEA Past Presidents
who have provided invaluable advice and support. In one of my exchanges with Ilkka Kourinka, he suggested
that we consider re-establishing the role of the IEA Historian. He provided the background of his role as the last
Historian and the great fortune we have of the archival work that CNAM is doing in Paris to serve as therepository of our records. A Historian could add to this valuable archive by recording the context for Council’sdeliberations and decisions. I am willing to consider reinstating the Historian role as a regular observer of theCouncil’s and Executive Committee activities. If any one is interested in taking on this position, please feel free
to contact me.
Representing IEA at Federated Society Events. Federated societies and networks have events that IEA supports
or encourages indirectly. We receive requests for a representative to be present at these events. We will makeevery effort to be involved in these events. Recent examples include David Caple’s visit to Indonesia, Verna
Blewett and Eric Wang both made separate presentation in India and Klaus Zink’s involvement with the WHOand ILO. Our presence at events is consistent with our strategic goals.
However, there may be times when another ergonomist may be a better representative because of their history
with the region, their areas of research or relationships with others in the area. If you would like to serve as arepresentative for the IEA, and would be willing to travel to an event, we can match the request to the rightperson. If the match fits this could be an ideal opportunity for the host and the IEA representative.
Unfortunately, IEA cannot pay for travel or other expenses. However, we could serve as a forum for bringing
together external experts and federated society needs.
If you have a need for an IEA representative or if you are willing to represent the IEA, please contact Secretary
General Eric Wang.
Exciting Ergonomics Events
Coffee Bean Harvesting Baskets in Nicaragua. Barbara Silverstein, who chairs our Industrial Development
Standing Committee, introduced the EC to a project that she is working on to redesign coffee harvesting baskets
to reduce injury risks. Project Coordinator, Kate Stewart, visited many coffee farms, got input from harvesters
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All-Ukrainian Ergonomics
Association
Asociación Española De
Ergonomia
Asociación de Ergonomia
Argentina
Association of CanadianErgonomists
Belgian Ergonomics Society
Brazilian Ergonomics
Association•
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Chinese Ergonomics Society
Croatian Ergonomics Society
Czech ergonomic Society
Ergonomics Society (U.K.)
Ergonomics Society ofAustralia
Ergonomics Society of Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia
Ergonomics Society of KoreaErgonomics Society of SouthAfrica

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Ergonomics Society of Taiwan
FEES
Gesellschaft fürArbeitswissenschaft
Hellenic Ergonomics Society
Hong Kong Ergonomics
Society
Human Factors andErgonomics Society (U.S.A.)
Hungarian Ergonomics Society
Italian Society of Ergonomics

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Inter-Regional Ergonomics
Association
Iranian Ergonomics Society
Irish Ergonomics Society
Israeli Ergonomics Society
Japan Ergonomics Society
Nederlandse Vereniging VoorErgonomie
New Zealand Ergonomics
Society
Nordic Ergonomic Society

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Österreichischearbeitsgemeinschaft fürErgonomie
Polish Ergonomics SocietyAssociação Portuguesa deErgonomia
Slovak Ergonomics
AssociationSociedad Chilena deErgonomia
Sociedad Columbiana deErgonomia•••••••

Sociedad de Ergonomistas deMexico
Società Italiana di Ergonomia
Société d’Ergonomie deLangue FrançaiseSouth East Asia Ergonomics
SocietySwiss Society for Ergonomics
Turkish Ergonomics Society
ULAERGOand owners in Nicaragua, and came away with a consensus that these baskets could be improved. The aim of
this project is to create a safer, more productive work environment by reducing the risk of back and shoulder
injuries among coffee harvesters. The project will develop a prototype harvest bag and produce 50 units to betested in Nicaragua. Next, productivity and reactions to the bag will be measured in a range of coffee growing
operations. This feedback will be used to make final modifications of the prototype.
The IEA EC identified this project as a lighthouse project that can illustrate how ergonomics, participatory
strategies and multinational cooperation can improve the lives of people around the world. Coffee is the world’s
second largest commodity and provides work for thousands of workers throughout Central America. It is a
product many of us around the world consume regularly and enjoy the benefits of this work. We would like tocreate visibility for projects like this around the world and encourage this application of our discipline. Barbara
and Kate are currently seeking funding for this project and we are following up on a number of alternatives tohelp fund this worthwhile project. If you would like to support this effort, please contact Barbara Silverstein atbassilver@comcast.net.
Schoolbags in Sri Lanka. Kapila Jayaratne organized a successful event promoting the healthy schoolbag at theDeyata Kirula Exhibition in Sri Lanka. This was a joint effort by the Education Publication Department, School
Health Unity, Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition. Dr. Jayaratne explained theergonomic features of the healthy schoolbag to children, parents and teachers. Raising ergonomic awareness tosuch a large group of everyday users can improve usability and comfort. The event was covered in the Sunday
Times and Daily Mirror.
Upcoming Events•KEER 2010
2-4 March 2010, Paris, France•APCHI & Ergofuture 2010
3-5 August 2010, Bali, Indonesia•2010 International Conference on Control Room Design25-26 October 2010, Paris, France•PPCOE 2010 Pan-Pacific Conference on Occupational Ergonomics
7-10 November 2010, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC• SEANES
December 2010, Cebu, Philippines
Sincerely,

Andrew S. Imada
President
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All-Ukrainian Ergonomics
Association
Asociación Española De
Ergonomia
Asociación de Ergonomia
Argentina
Association of Canadian
Ergonomists
Belgian Ergonomics Society
Brazilian Ergonomics
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Chinese Ergonomics Society
Croatian Ergonomics SocietyCzech ergonomic Society
Ergonomics Society (U.K.)
Ergonomics Society ofAustralia
Ergonomics Society of Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia
Ergonomics Society of Korea
Ergonomics Society of SouthAfrica

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Ergonomics Society of Taiwan
FEES
Gesellschaft fürArbeitswissenschaft
Hellenic Ergonomics Society
Hong Kong Ergonomics
Society
Human Factors andErgonomics Society (U.S.A.)
Hungarian Ergonomics Society
Italian Society of Ergonomics

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Inter-Regional Ergonomics
Association
Iranian Ergonomics Society
Irish Ergonomics Society
Israeli Ergonomics SocietyJapan Ergonomics Society
Nederlandse Vereniging VoorErgonomie
New Zealand ErgonomicsSocietyNordic Ergonomic Society••••••Österreichischearbeitsgemeinschaft fürErgonomie
Polish Ergonomics SocietyAssociação Portuguesa deErgonomia
Slovak Ergonomics
Association
Sociedad Chilena deErgonomia
Sociedad Columbiana deErgonomia

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Sociedad de Ergonomistas deMexico
Società Italiana di Ergonomia
Société d’Ergonomie deLangue FrançaiseSouth East Asia Ergonomics
SocietySwiss Society for Ergonomics
Turkish Ergonomics Society
ULAERGO