QP3 ErgoSystems LLC

Did you know that California has multiple ergonomics requirements? In the 1990's, California issued an "Ergonomics Standard for General Industry."  This Standard goes into effect when two or more people performing similar jobs are diagnosed with similar work-related musculoskeletal disorders within a 12-month period (not necessarily a calendar year.)  Requirements of the Standard include assessing & mitigating the risks, as well as employee training with specific requirements. Another Cal/OSHA requirement is its "Suitable Seating Standard." This Standard allows employees to sue their employers if they believe they can "reasonably" sit while working.   In 2018 Cal/OSHA issued the occupationally-specific Hotel Housekeeper Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Program (MIPP) Standard. This Standard requires annual assessments of housekeeping tasks as well as employee, supervisor, and manager training. The Standard also requires that all hotels, inns, B&Bs, and any entity that rent rooms address identified hazards. While not specifically an Ergonomics Standard, the Injury & Illness Prevention Program Standard (IIPP) requires California businesses to investigate the potential causes of all work-related discomfort.   The team at QP3 ErgoSystems is well-versed in helping companies with operations in California comply with these requirements.  (And even if you or your clients do not have any operations in California, you're still required to assess the work-relatedness and recordability of employees' aches and pains.) Please email us at info@qp3ergosystems.com, or call us at (847) 921-3113 for a free consultation about your challenges and needs. We can help! #ergonomics #safety #productivity #regulations #productivity #quality #profitability

Americans are going to be celebrating Independence Day over the next week, and Spencer, the QP3 Ergo Lab, has a few requests. Spencer is scared of loud pops and bangs, so please don’t set off your own fireworks in your neighborhood. There will be lots of scared animals, and July 4th sees more runaway dogs in America than on any other day. Instead, Spencer recommends attending your community’s celebrations with professionally designed fireworks and trained pyrotechnicians. If you have pets at home, consult with your veterinarian about mild sedatives. (We have a couple of options to reduce Spencer’s anxiety.) Also, consider attaching a tracking device on your furry friend’s collar. (Spencer has his own AirTag.) Spencer also says, “Happy 248th Birthday, America, and to many, many more! #safety #fireworks #anxiety #lostpets

Hotel Housekeeping is a "high hazard occupation. What are you doing about it?

Join our Principal, Timothy A. Pottorff, MEng., CIE, ARM and his friend and colleague Merl Miller, MS, ATC, CIE, CPE at Safety 2024! https://safety.assp.org/

This is going to be a great talk!

Ergo Tuck...for better, safer, and easier bed making!

QP3 ErgoSystems had a great presence at the 2024 ASSP Region IV Professional Development Conference in Orlando this week. QP3’s Florida Ergonomists Andrea McKinney and Frank D’Agostino joined Principal Tim Pottorff at the Expo. Visitors learned about our geographic reach and technical capabilities. A popular take away was an “Ergonomics Needs Assessment.” This simple guide, written in “plain English,” helps non-ergonomists identify risk factors in their operations. On Wednesday May 1, QP3 Principal Tim Pottorff presented the topic, “MSDs and Opioids: A Threat to Limb and Life.” The US has an average of three hundred opioid-related deaths per day, nearly 100,000 per year. The overuse of opioids for pain management in occupational health has made MSDs a leading contributor to addiction. In addition, traditional “RICE” intervention method for treating joint inflammation does not provide a long term cure and non-opioid anti-inflammatory therapies have proven effective. In the short term, companies should identify, assess, and mitigate MSD risk factors in existing processes and equipment and eliminate them in new designs. If you need help with onsite ergonomics, machine guarding, OSHA 10 or 30 hour courses, or industrial hygiene services, please contact us at info@qp3ergosystems.com! #ergonomics #safety #machineguarding, #industrialhygiene #OSHA

Our Principal has spent a good part of his professional career on his feet, and Spencer, the QP3 Ergo Lab, endorses anti-fatigue gel insoles for shoes. Because most shoes don’t absorb much of the impact when our heels strike the floor, our legs and spine become “biological shock absorbers.” There’s a lot more to good ergonomics than this, and most companies need more help than this, but Spencer says it’s a good start. (And Spencer says that if you engage QP3, maybe he can get a “real” chew toy!)

The Spring NSC Conference in Rosemont, IL is just around the corner!

If you're a small business owner, this post is a must-read!