1. Occupational Safety & Ergonomics Center (Spring 2005) Industrial & Systems Engineering Department

2. Dr. Rob Thomas Director, Professor of INSY Occupational Safety & Health NIOSH / CDC ERC (Education & Research Center) founded in 1981 Joint between AU INSY Engr / UAB Medicine, Nursing, Public Health Current annual funding for AU: $232K Dr. Jerry Davis Assistant Professor

3. Occupational Safety & Health Extended Faculty –Robert (Bob) Rummer, PhD, CPE (USFS) –David (Dave) Pascoe, PhD (HLHP) –Wendi H. Weimer, PhD (HLHP) –Troy Blackburn, PhD (HLHP) –Bill L. Hopkins, PhD (PSYC) –Dick T. Herrick, MD (Private Practice Physician) –Lewis Payton, PhD (INSY)

4. Deep South Center One of 16 national centers supported by CDC/NIOSH Responsible for Occupational Safety and Health training (and research) in the Southeast (AL, MS, TN, GA, KY, SC) Programs –Occupational Medicine, Nursing, and Industrial Hygiene (UAB) –Occupational Safety & Ergonomics (AU) Benefits –National connections and recognition –Interdisciplinary training and resources –Enhancement of undergraduate instruction

5. Mission and Structure Mission: high quality graduate education and research in ergonomics, safety and human factors with funding earmarked for US citizens / permanent residents Structure: graduate students take regular ISE curriculum with electives, site visits, projects and seminars focused on occupational safety and ergonomics. Can get ISE MS, MISE or PhD degrees.

6. Students Graduated 10 PhD and 40 MS students working for Honda, NASA, Delta Airlines, Penn State, General Motors, UPS, Intel, etc. over past 5 years Current students: 5 PhD & 18 MS (14 on- campus: 9 receiving NIOSH support)

7. Check Out this Web Site http://new.blackvoices.com/classified/jobs/bv-career- gmcareers.story Rashawnda Williams, BISE 1999, MISE, 2000, works for General Motors near Detroit and was sponsored for her MISE by the Deep South Center. She was selected as one of five GM interviewees for Black Voices and gives a digital video interview about her educational background and her current position

8. Funding AU Base Budget ($200,000): OS&E, MS & PhD Supplemental Funding ($130,000): PhD only Program changes: –Year round funding for doctoral students (on- campus) –Summer term “Research Methods” course –Closer interdisciplinary ties with UAB

9. OS&E Laboratory Status New Equipment Peak Performance Motion Measurement System Electromyography Data Acquisition System

10. OS&E Laboratory Status New Equipment Foot Ground Reaction Force Plate Human Balance Assessment System

11. OS&E Laboratory Status New Equipment Lumbar Motion Monitor Elemental Driving Simulator

12. OS&E Laboratory Status Spinal Curvature Measurement Device

13. OS&E Research (Current) Relevant Factors in Pharmacy Dispensing Errors  Egress: Human performance in fire evacuations  Manpower/Staffing in Municipal Environments Non-Verbal Communications for Hispanic’s Vibration issues associated with LHF truck drivers Workplace layout and design Balance & Postural issues Sensitivity of Ergonomic Assessment Tools

14. OS&E Research (Current) –Job Demands and Recuperation Time Required for Nursing Home Personnel –Evaluation of Back Postures Experienced by Skidder Operators –System Safety Techniques applicable to Forest Harvesting Equipment –Factors associated with Patient Handling in Restricted Spaces.

15. OS&E Research (Initiatives) Inverse Kinematics Relationship Between Task Demands and Spinal Morphology Pattern Recognition of Human Biological Signals Occupational Warning Signs and Displays: Comprehension and Compliance Usability of Static Displays Required by the Physically Challenged

16. Questions & Comments