Grant: Engage Grants Program

The collaboration between Nancy Black at Université de Moncton and the company Ergostanz located inAbbotsford in BC will assess effect from the use of their new product, the Workblade Postural Support System.This postural support system has been developed to give an alternative to sitting at work. Prolonged sitting atwork has been associated to negatives health outcome as type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.The Workblade allows the worker to remain in a standing posture at work while being supported by a rearwardinclined backrest. Possible benefits can arise from the use of this support system, including reduced sedentary time. However, research must be conducted to better understand the benefits and any negative effects to allow the company to improve the design. The Workblade will be tested in the Mechanical Engineering Department (Ergonomics, Biomechanics and Industrial Engineering Laboratory) by a Research Assistants under the supervision of Professor Nancy Black. Her field of speciality is ergonomic, work study and movement analysis while at work. Initially, twenty participants will be recruited to work on a typical seated and ergonomically-adjusted workstation and on the Workblade for a period of one hour each when working on a simulating computer task. Posture, perception and discomfort will be collected and compared between the two workstations. Subsequently day-long studies of the same two work set-ups for an entire working day (possibly with an adapted Workblade design) will determinetypical work habits and the longer-term consequences of the Workblade use. Results will allow Ergostanz to improve their design and to better understand the real benefit of their product and on the other hand, a better understanding of prolonged sitting posture at work.