Dan Robinson, PhD, CCPE

How long have you been an ACE member?

I believe that I first became a student member in 1991 when the then HFAC conference was held in Vancouver. I gave my first conference presentation there and was awarded the Julien M Christensen Award for best graduate student paper.

How did you first become interested in ergonomics?

I first heard about ergonomics during my Masters work at SFU in the School of Kinesiology. I was studying tree planters throughout BC on a grant that had been awarded to Thomas J. Smith and Eric Banister. Along with another graduate student, David Trites, we looked at a variety of issues related to pesticide exposure, musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue and training/skill development. During this research, I first learned about the field of ergonomics.

What didn’t you learn in school that you wish you had?

I was in university for 17 years and blended graduate school with employment in the “real world”. The combination was a great way to learn about ergonomics and consulting. I think it might have been good to learn a bit more about the business aspects of ergonomics at university.

How long have you been an ACE member?

I believe that I first became a student member in 1991 when the then HFAC conference was held in Vancouver. I gave my first conference presentation there and was awarded the Julien M Christensen Award for best graduate student paper.

How did you first become interested in ergonomics?

I first heard about ergonomics during my Masters work at SFU in the School of Kinesiology. I was studying tree planters throughout BC on a grant that had been awarded to Thomas J. Smith and Eric Banister. Along with another graduate student, David Trites, we looked at a variety of issues related to pesticide exposure, musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue and training/skill development. During this research, I first learned about the field of ergonomics.

What didn’t you learn in school that you wish you had?

I was in university for 17 years and blended graduate school with employment in the “real world”. The combination was a great way to learn about ergonomics and consulting. I think it might have been good to learn a bit more about the business aspects of ergonomics at university.

What is your favourite aspect of being an ergonomist? What is your favourite aspect of being involved in ergonomics?

I love the variety in work, the people and organizations that I meet along the way, and the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. It is also a rare occupation that can be set up as a home-based business, which I have been doing since 2000.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity for ergonomists in the future?

Given the progress with technology – sensors, data management, remote/video conferencing – I believe there will be a large role for ergonomists both in the use of these tools but also in trying to make these remain grounded in what is practical and useful for tracking, assessing, designing and improving work and workplaces.

What advice would you give to a student or young professional starting out in ergonomics?

Get involved early with professional associations like ACE that will provide networking and educational opportunities. Find a good mentor or mentors who have established careers and learn from them. If you are at a university with Co-op ergonomics opportunities, do that. Get as much varied experience as you can.