Media Contacts:Dr. Gary Mirka, 919/515-6399

Dr. Carolyn Sommerich, 919/515-8614

October 15, 1996

Ergonomics in Furniture Industry Target of Researchers' Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In an effort to help identify and continuously improve safety conditions in the furniture industry, two researchers from North Carolina State University are conducting a study on ergonomic analysis techniques for furniture manufacturing.

The two-year study, initiated last year, is funded by the Furniture Manufacturing and Management Center at NC State.

Based on their findings, the researchers will create an ergonomics checklist and design guidebook geared toward furniture manufacturing. The checklist and guidebook will help furniture industry personnel identify and improve back and upper extremity ergonomic concerns in their facilities. Furniture manufacturers located in or near North Carolina are encouraged to participate in the study.

Dr. Gary Mirka and Dr. Carolyn Sommerich, assistant professors of industrial engineering at NC State, are coordinating the project. According to Mirka, the research will help identify ergonomic issues with particular relevance to the furniture industry.

"Educating industry personnel about workstation design principles, proper lifting mechanics and appropriate hand tool selection will help head off back, shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries down the road," Mirka said. "Simple solutions to these problems can have a long-term impact on the incidence of low back and upper extremity injuries. This is our goal -- simple, inexpensive solutions that can have a great impact."

furniture-2

As part of the study, researchers are visiting furniture plants to observe, and in some instances videotape, employees at work. Employees also may be recruited to wear test equipment such as the Lumbar Motion Monitor, a device that gathers information about upper body movements.

In addition, research is being conducted on the company's injury and illness logs required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Mirka and Sommerich are looking for trends in the data in order to identify and target jobs that produce specific recurring injuries.

According to Jon Parrish, director of loss control and environment at Lane Company Inc., the study will benefit the furniture industry as a whole, both large and small companies. "The results of the study will help the safety professionals in the day-to-day operation of the furniture plant. It will help us provide the best environment possible for our employees."

Companies interested in participating in the project should call Mirka at (919) 515-6399 or Sommerich at (919) 515-8614.

--30--