Winnie Ip Receives Best Technical Article of the Year Award

6/19/12

For Immediate Release

Ann Arbor, MICH – Humantech, Inc. is pleased to announce that Winnie Ip, Director of Consulting and Ergonomics Engineer, received The American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Best Technical Ergonomics Article of the Year 2011 – 2012 award.

Ip’s article, Designing for an Aging Population, was selected from over 15 ergonomics-related articles. Vice President of the Council on Practices and Standards, George Pearson, presented the award at the ASSE Ergonomics Practice Specialty meeting during the 2012 Safety Conference held June 3-6 in Denver, Colorado. The article was published in ASSE’s Interface and the Ergonomics Practice E-zine, and will be published again in July in the 2011-2012 “Best of the Best” publication, a compilation of the best articles from ASSE’s Practice Specialty Newsletter.

According to Ip, “Actuaries anticipate that, due to increased longevity, the eventual retirement age will reach 74 years. It appears that the 65- to 74-year-old age group will be the next growth market.”

The article describes some unique design requirements to consider when employing older workers. “When we analyze how the work environment affects the workforce, we need to examine both above-the-shoulders factors and below-the-shoulders factors,” explains Ip. Above-the-shoulders factors include vision, hearing, and cognitive ability, whereas below-the-shoulders factors include strength, physiology, heat stress, shift work, connective tissues, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and slips, trips, and falls. The below-the-shoulders factors require the most attention. She suggests taking a proactive approach to addressing these challenges.   

Winnie helps her clients manage and implement complex, large-scale ergonomics programs in a variety of industries, from automotive to petroleum to food and beverage and printing industries. She provides technical services, delivers high-impact ergonomics training, establishes management programs, and conducts process reviews of ergonomics and health and safety programs.  Her recent client engagements include Caterpillar, ExxonMobil, Genie Industries, Iron Mountain, Kraft Foods, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Verizon Communications.

Winnie received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, and is completing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She has achieved recognition as a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) and is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
For over 30 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining the science of ergonomics and our unique 30-Inch View®—where people, work, and environment intersect—we deliver practical solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we believe people make productivity happen. For more information about our portfolio of products and services or the 30-Inch View, visit www.humantech.com.