FPE Awards Impact Grants to Thailand and Malaysia

The Foundation for Professional Ergonomics (FPE)  is pleased to announce the winners of the FPE Impact Grants for 2021. FPE Impact Grants aim to provide seed funding for small (pilot) projects that support the development of professional ergonomics worldwide.  A total of eighteen high-quality proposals were received from Columbia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.  The selection committee, comprising Drs. Harvey Cohen, Waldemar Karwowski (Chair), and Dick Kelly, unanimously decided to provide funding to two excellent proposals deemed to have the highest potential impact on the practice of ergonomics worldwide.

The first FPE Impact Grant went to a project entitled: "Development of a Certification System and Core Competencies for Professional Ergonomists in Thailand", proposed by a team led by Dr. Manida S. Neubert, CPE, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.  This project will define the Human Factors/Ergonomics (HF/E) core competencies unique to Thailand and establish a professional certification program consistent with the International Ergonomics Association goals and the certification model the US uses.  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have been identified as one of the most significant occupational diseases in Thailand. With the growing use of automation, cognitive requirements on operators are increasing.  Academic institutions are now starting to include HF/E courses or topics in their educational programs. However, most programs are delivered by instructors with limited HF/E background and little consideration of holistic approaches in HF/E.  To reliably assess and design systems according to HF/E principles and standards, programs should be provided by creditable HF/E professionals and based on holistic HF/E knowledge.  But, a professional HF/E system and competencies have not yet been developed in Thailand. This project is expected to have a large impact on the profession in Thailand overall. 

The second FPE Impact Grant was provided to Dr. Dian Darina Indah Daruis of the Faculty of Engineering at the National Defense University of Malaysia for their proposal entitled "Ergonomics Intervention Design for Traditional Textile Painting: Batik Industry in Malaysia."  This project will investigate the ergonomic risks for Batik workers and then design and implement a sit/stand stool to reduce the ergonomic risks to workers.   Batik is textile artwork and manual production is the preferred method.

Therefore, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common among workers. This health problem contributes to long-term medical effects on the workers. This project is very well planned and should have a significant impact on workers in this industry.

Both projects have a 12-month period of performance and will provide interim and final reports.  Findings will be published in professional journals with reference to FPE’s financial support.

For more information about the deadlines and proposal submission process for 2022 Impact Grant Awards, please contact Drs. Waldemar Karwowski wkarowski@gmail.com and Harvey Cohen harvey@erroranalysis.com.