Foundation for Professional Ergonomics (FPE) Impact Grants provide seed funding for small (pilot) projects that support the development of professional ergonomics worldwide. The two latest projects address:
- Certification system and core competencies for professional ergonomists in Thailand.
- Investigation of the ergonomic risks common to workers in the batik industry in Malaysia.
New Ergonomics Certification Program in Thailand
With the support of the FPE impact grant program, Dr. Manida Neubert and her team of investigators developed a certification system and core competencies for professional ergonomists in Thailand. This is a particularly timely initiative since Thailand is rapidly incorporating modern technology and automation into its manufacturing processes, and there are no professional standards for those providing human factors and ergonomics (HFE) assistance. Moreover, the coverage of HFE topics in university curricula is uneven.