Department Ergo Award

Department Awards Questions and Answers

What are the MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness Department Awards?
The Department Ergo Hero Awards recognize university departments and units for independently implementing ergonomic solutions to decrease ergonomic risk factors and reduce or prevent employee discomfort. The form is online year round to accept nominations, and they are reviewed once per year in April by the Ergonomics Team.

What kind of projects will be considered for an Ergo Hero Department Award?
Entries may include new equipment, equipment modifications, or work process redesigns that can document successful reduction in one or more of the following ergonomic risk factors:

Awkward Postures Posture is the position your body is in while muscle groups are involved in physical activity. Awkward postures include repeated or prolonged reaching, twisting, bending, kneeling, squatting or, working overhead with your hands or arms.
Forceful Exertions Force is the amount of physical effort required to perform a task, such as heavy lifting or maintaining control of equipment or tools. The amount of force depends on the type of grip, the weight of an object, body postures, the types of activity and the duration of the task.
Repetition or Sustained Postures Doing the same motions over and over again or holding the body in one posture for long periods of time places stress on the muscles and tendons. The severity of risk depends on how often the action is repeated, the length of time postures are maintained, the speed of the movement, the number of muscles involved, and the force required.
Contact Stress Pressing the body against a hard or sharp object can result in putting too much pressure on nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. For example, using your hand as a hammer can increase your risk of MSD (musculoskeletal disorders).
Vibration Operating vibrating tools such as sanders, grinders, chippers, routers, drills and saws can lead to nerve damage. Special padding or anti-vibration gloves can help.
Temperature Extremes Temperature extremes can also influence the magnitude of risk factors. As an example, the use of thick or loose-fitting gloves to keep hands warm may cause you to grip hand tools more forcefully, resulting in added stress to the wrists and hands. Similarly, a hot environment may decrease endurance and may increase the slipperiness of hand tools due to sweating.

Who is eligible to receive a Department Ergononomics Award?
Any University of Michigan department, (excluding the ergonomics consultants’) or unit that implemented an effective ergonomic solution in the prior year is eligible for this award program. However, Award nominations will not be considered for projects previously funded by the MHealthy ergonomic grants program.

Who can submit nominations for an Ergo Hero Award?
Any university faculty or staff member can submit a nomination form.

Can I nominate a department or unit I don’t work for?
Yes.

Who are the judges?
The judging panel is comprised of the MHealthy Ergonomics Awareness Team, consisting of health and safety personnel from MHealthy, UMHHC Safety Management Services, OSEH Ann Arbor, and the Environment, Health and Safety Offices in Flint and Dearborn.

What criteria will the judges use to evaluate Department Ergo Award nominations?

  1. Significance of the ergonomic issue
  2. Successful outcome of the ergonomics solution
  3. Inclusion of the staff in the problem identification and solution development process

What will a department receive for winning an Ergonomics Award?
Winning departments or units will receive a special prize and a celebration sponsored by MHealthy. Award recipients will also be recognized in the university community and on the MHealthy web site.

How do I submit a nomination for a Department Ergonomics Award?
The nomination form is online year round to accept nominations, and they are reviewed once per year in April. Apply for an Ergo Department Award.

Be an Ergo Hero

Ergonomics Award Winners

2011-2012 Grants and Award Programs

Vew the pdf of the 2011-2012 Grants and Award Winners

Gold Level winners:

  • UMHHC, Radiology
  • School of Public Health, Health Behavior Health

Silver Level winners:

  • UMHHC, Turner Geriatrics Silver Club programs

Bronze Level winners:

  • UMHHC, Pathology MLabs
  • School of Social Work

2010-2011

Vew the pdf of the 2010-2011 Grants and Award Winners

Plaques for Outstanding Contribution

  • UMHHC Vascular Access Services Team
  • LS&A Facilities
  • UMHHC Gifts of Art
  • UMHHC Laundry

Certificate of Recognition

  • UMHHC SWAT

2009-2010

Vew the pdf of the 2009-2010 Grants and Award Winners

Plaques

  • Mott Hospital Operating Rooms
  • Internal Medicine Dept. Clinical Operations, Medical Procedures Unit
  • The Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR)
  • The School of Information
  • The School of Social Work

Certificates

  • Facilities & Operations, UM Flint
  • Vascular Access Team, University of Michigan Health System
  • Materiel Services, University of Michigan Health System
  • The Medical Procedures Unit, University of Michigan Health System
  • Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC IT)
  • Physical Therapy Department, University of Michigan Health System

Letter of Commendation

  • Department of Pathology

2008 Effective Ergonomics Solutions Awards Winners

View the pdf of the 2008 Grants & Award Winners.

  • Computing Services, Ross School of Business
  • Michigan Sea Grant, SNRE

2007 Effective Ergonomics Solutions Awards Winners

View the pdf of the 2007 Grants & Award Winners.

  • Campus Mail Services
  • Campus Maintenance
  • Department of Psychology
  • U-M Hospitals and Health Centers Security
  • U-M Hospitals and Health Centers 6B Nursing
  • Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine

2006 Effective Ergonomics Solutions Awards Winners

View the pdf of the 2006 Grants & Award Winners.

  • UMHS: Pathology and Hematology
  • Campus: Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM)
  • UMHS: Patient Food and Nutrition Services
  • Ann Arbor Campus: Digital Media Commons
  • Ann Arbor Campus: Office of the Plant Director-Plant Payroll and Accounts Payable Office
  • UMHS: Security and Entrance Services
  • Ann Arbor Campus: Managed Care/Student Insurance Department/University Health Service