National Ergonomics Month (NEM) is observed every October to promote human factors and ergonomics: designing work, tools and equipment to fit the people who use them. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) designated October as National Ergonomics Month in 2003, and its members use the month to raise awareness through talks, articles, workplace events and community projects.
For employers, October is a good time to look hard at the lifting, reaching, repetition and awkward postures that wear workers down, because those risks drive a large share of lost and restricted work time.
When Is National Ergonomics Month in 2027?
National Ergonomics Month runs all of October, from October 1 to October 31, 2027. HFES set the observance for October, so the timing does not change from year to year.
HFES does not tie the month to a single fixed slogan on its event page. Instead, it encourages members and organizations to promote ergonomics through teaching, learning, networking and service. Check the HFES site each year for current activities and materials.
Why It Matters at Work
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries and disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, rotator cuff injuries, muscle strains and low back injuries. OSHA's ergonomics page explains that the risk rises with heavy lifting, bending, reaching overhead, pushing or pulling heavy loads, working in awkward postures and doing the same task over and over. OSHA lists registered nurses, laborers, truck drivers, janitors and production workers among the occupations with high numbers of these injuries.
The cost in lost time is large. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023–2024 injury and illness data, private industry employers reported 946,290 cases involving days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer caused by overexertion, repetitive motion and bodily conditions over those two years. That is nearly a third of all 2,983,110 such cases. The median time away or restricted for these cases was 24 days, compared with 14 days for all cases.
Many ergonomic hazards are also practical to fix. Changing a workstation height, adding a lift assist or rotating tasks can be simple changes that remove a daily source of strain.
How to Take Part
- Follow HFES ideas. HFES suggests requesting a speaker, writing an article, organizing an office event, speaking at a local school or leading a community service project during October.
- Walk the floor. Spend time watching real tasks. Look for lifting from the floor or above the shoulders, twisting while carrying, long reaches and repeated forceful gripping.
- Ask workers. The people doing the job know which tasks hurt. Run a short discomfort survey and follow up on the answers.
- Assess the top tasks. Use a job hazard analysis or ergonomic assessment on the tasks with the most complaints or injuries.
- Fix one thing. Pick at least one improvement to make in October, such as raising a work surface, adding a cart or hoist, or changing how product is stored.
- Do not forget offices and vehicles. Check monitor height, chairs and keyboard position at desks, and seat adjustment and cab entry for drivers.
When you choose fixes, start at the source. Following the hierarchy of controls, look first at engineering changes such as lift tables, adjustable work surfaces, powered equipment and better tool design. Then use administrative controls such as job rotation, scheduled breaks and team lifts. Training on body mechanics helps, but it works best as support for engineering changes rather than a substitute for them.
Toolbox Talk: Fit the Job to the Worker
Read this outline at the start of a shift during October.
- What ergonomics means. It is about setting up the job so it fits your body, instead of forcing your body to fit the job.
- Know the risk factors. Heavy lifting, awkward postures, reaching overhead, twisting and doing the same motion over and over all add up.
- Lift smart. Keep loads close, lift from waist height when you can, turn with your feet instead of twisting, and use carts, hoists or a second person for heavy items.
- Change it up. Take short micro-breaks, switch tasks when the schedule allows and adjust your station before you start.
- Report early. Tell your supervisor about aches, numbness or tingling early. Early fixes prevent long-term injuries.
Discussion question: Which task on this shift leaves you the most sore at the end of the day, and what one change would make it easier?
How SMS360 Helps
The Risk Assessment module in SMS360 lets you assess ergonomic risk task by task, rate it consistently and assign corrective actions with owners and due dates. Workers can report discomfort and observations from a mobile device, supervisors can run digital checklists on the floor, and dashboards help you track which high-risk tasks have been addressed and which still need attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Ergonomics Month 2027?
National Ergonomics Month runs all of October, from October 1 to October 31, 2027. The month is the same every year.
Who started National Ergonomics Month?
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society designated October as National Ergonomics Month in 2003. HFES uses the month to promote human factors and ergonomics to the public, students, businesses and decision makers. Its National Ergonomics Month page lists ways to get involved.
What are common ergonomic hazards at work?
Common hazards include lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing or pulling heavy loads, awkward postures and repetitive tasks. These can lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as back injuries, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
