HFEM Newsletter (May 2025) | Page 2
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HFEM Newsletter | May 2025 | Page 2
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Opportunity for practitioners!
HFEM Academy is pleased to announce its upcoming Return to Work Industrial Training, scheduled for 30 June 2025 (Monday) via Zoom Meeting, from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM. This one-day program, accredited with 5 CEP points and HRD Corp claimable under SBL Khas, is designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and strategies to support the reintegration of injured or ill employees back into the workplace. The training will cover key intervention, rehabilitation, and sustainable return-to-work planning aspects. Open to all, the participation fee is RM80 for HFEM active members and RM150 for non-members. Limited slots are available—register now via https://forms.gle/4e2xa7CtMbXwA12PA to secure your place and contribute to building safer, more inclusive workplaces.
HFEM Expert Talk Series 3 – FREE Webinar!
HFEM Academy proudly presents the third session in our Expert Talk Series:
🔍 Understanding Vibration Perceptions for Workplace Safety and Ergonomics
🗓️ Saturday, 17 May 2025
🕙 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (1 Hour)
📍 Free Online Webinar
In this third installment of the HFEM Expert Talk Series, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ng Yee Guan will share expert insights on how vibration is perceived in the workplace and its impact on occupational safety and ergonomics. Learn how vibration exposure can affect performance, comfort, and long-term worker health.
🎯 Seats are limited – Register Now!
📲 Scan the QR code or click the link to register:
🔗 https://forms.gle/Yz9TPWXsye7YLq5aA
Contact Information:
For more details or inquiries, please contact:
📞 0109051720 (HFEM)
📧 training@hfemacademy.com
Connet with HFEM!
Stay connected with us and keep up with the latest ergonomics and human factors! Follow our official social media pages for valuable insights, expert tips, and updates from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Malaysia Society (HFEM) and HFEM Academy. We’ve got you covered from upcoming events and conferences to in-depth discussions on creating safer and more efficient workspaces! https://hfem.org/online-registration/
MAY Columnist
Macroergonomics for Sustainable Workplaces
This issue
√ Macroergonomics: A Strategic Lens
√ MerWA: Framework and Function
√ Looking Ahead: MerWA and Regional
Across Malaysia and ASEAN, organizations are navigating complex work environments shaped by new technologies, aging populations, and growing demands on worker performance. Industries, research institutions, and government bodies alike are seeking integrated, sustainable approaches to workplace safety, productivity, and well-being. In response, Malaysia has developed the Macroergonomics Workplace Assessment (MerWA)—a nationally grounded and internationally relevant tool for managing ergonomic risks at the systemic level.
Macroergonomics: A Strategic Lens
Macroergonomics examines how work systems—comprising people, tools, tasks, environments, and organizational policies—interact and influence performance. It expands traditional ergonomics beyond posture and equipment to include culture, workflow, technology integration, and leadership. In industrial settings, macroergonomics helps reduce production downtime and injury rates. In academia, it informs interdisciplinary research and curriculum development. For HFEM members, it provides a structured methodology to guide audits, consulting projects, and certification pathways.
MerWA: Framework and Function
MerWA is designed to diagnose ergonomic and organizational challenges across sectors. It comprises seven interlinked sections:
Section A: Workplace Context and Demographics.
Section B: Risk Screening for Activity Classification.
Section C: Task-Based Evaluation (human-machine interaction, repetitive tasks).
Section D: Confined Space Evaluation.
Section E: Job Design and Scheduling (including overwork and isolation)
Section F: Environmental Ergonomics (noise, lighting, heat, ventilation)
Section G: Organizational Systems (leadership, safety culture, communication)
Each section includes observation guides, checklists, and scoring matrices. MerWA also aligns with regulatory tools such as ERA, NRA, and HIRARC—making it suitable for compliance verification and system-wide assessments.
Access and Engagement
Download the full MerWA guidebook and resources:
Key Applications by Sector
For Industry
- Optimize production lines and manual handling systems.
- Improve safety compliance across multiple sites.
- Reduce absenteeism, fatigue-related errors, and turnover.
For Academia
- Integrate MerWA into ergonomic design and OSH curricula.
- Develop postgraduate research around macroergonomic innovation.
- Collaborate on community-based ergonomic interventions.
For HFEM Professionals
- Apply MerWA in consulting, assessments, and certification audits.
- Align practice with ICOP standards and Malaysian regulatory expectations.
- Lead training workshops and contribute to national capacity-building.
Scoring System and Decision Support
MerWA applies weighted scoring to three critical domains:
Physical Ergonomics: 50%
Cognitive Ergonomics: 30%
Organizational Ergonomics: 20%
These scores generate compliance levels and risk ratings that assist decision-makers in prioritizing interventions and tracking improvements. For industries, this supports targeted investment in automation, training, or workstation redesign. For researchers, it opens pathways for evidence-based studies on occupational performance and safety.
Looking Ahead: MerWA and Regional Impact
MerWA is poised to become a foundational component of Malaysia’s upcoming Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) on ergonomics. As other ASEAN countries confront similar challenges in workforce health and system inefficiency, MerWA presents an opportunity for regional benchmarking and harmonized intervention strategies. HFEM envisions joint collaborations in research, training, and pilot testing—particularly with institutions and industries in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and beyond. HFEM invites industries, academic institutions, and ergonomics practitioners to explore MerWA as a tool for transformation—not just assessment. Let us work together to build safer, smarter, and more sustainable work systems across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS SOCIETY MALAYSIA
Level 3 & 4, Wisma Suria, Jalan Teknokrat 6, Cyber 5, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: 03-8314 3360 E-mail: secretary@hfem.org