Ergonomist and Exercise Physiologist registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA), Ergonomic Society of South Africa (ESSA) and the Department of Health and Medical services within Dubai.
Ergonomic qualifications and experience in:
Office ergonomics
Ergonomics design
Industrial Ergonomics evaluations
Advisory board member for construction ergonomics legislature in conjunction with various Trade Union representatives
Biomechanical and physiological effects design
Construction site ergonomics
Industrial ergonomics design
Forensic ergonomics.
Furthermore, I have experienced working for an Ergonomic Consultancy company in South Africa which specialized in ergonomics within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Exercise Physiologist qualified and experienced in:
Orthopaedic rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation
Chronic disease rehabilitation.
Occupational trauma, including cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs),
I have project management and managerial experience gained from managing numerous projects for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and a Cardiac and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Clinic.
I am self motivated, professional, well organized and always offer the highest quality of work, whether as an individual or as a member of a team. I am a hard working individual and believe I would be an asset to any institution or company enlisting my services.
Professional Experience
Role: Ergonomics Consultant Company: Ergonomic Technologies Corporation Duration: Current
Role: Human Factors Engineer / Ergonomist Company: ErgoTech (Ergonomic Technology) – a leading ergonomic authority in Southern Africa Duration: May 2004 – March 2005
As a project manger focusing on human factors engineering within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), I was responsible for all aspects of the project - managing the budget, scoping, and delivery and presenting the final report to management. Projects included:
Key responsibilities:
Male and female anthropometry for the SANDF. This enables the SANDF to manufacture and purchase equipment which accommodates the 5th to 95th percentiles in the population. The use of the data to make equipment and work space design recommendations.
Sensory Database with the SANDF. Managing the development of a functional vision standard for use with SANDF’s work analysis program.
Human Factor Evaluation of the Olifant Tanks fro armoury within the SANDF.
Ergonomics Evaluation on the MPPV troop carrier. Co-coordinator of a human factors engineering evaluation of a troop carrier vehicle for a Belgium tender.
Soldier performance: Human vs. Simulator. Managing research to evaluate the difference between simulator training and in-situ training performance.
Physiology of the Hydration within the SANDF. Determining the effects of dehydration and Hyponatremia within the general operational forces.
The use of simulators as performance assessment tools and the negative physiological, psycho-physiological and psychophysical effects of prolonged virtual reality exposure.
Health and Safety evaluations with regard to numerous working environments and vehicles.
Role: Human Factors Engineer / Ergonomist - Contractor Company: Ergomax Duration: January 2004 – April 2004 (Contractual Work)
I facilitated Health and Safety evaluations of various construction sites. This included managing the evaluation to ensure construction site compliance with government legislation. This legislation was promulgated in conjunction with the various trade unions representing the construction site workers.
Key responsibilities:
Member of advisory board that established the legislation surrounding ergonomics in South African construction sites. This board was represented by ergonomists, major owners from the construction companies, trade union representatives and government officials.
Managing evaluations of the specified construction sites, writing reports and making recommendations to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Act.
Human Factors Engineering evaluations at the Canadian Trade office in Johannesburg.
Health and Safety Evaluation at Eskom Power Station Kriel.
Health and Safety Evaluation and Trade Union risk assessment compliance evaluation at South African Breweries (SAB).
Role: Manager and Biokineticist Company: Quindon Johnston Biokinetics Duration: January 2003 – January 2004
I managed a Cardiac, Chronic Disease and Orthopaedic clinic in Johannesburg.
Key responsibilities:
Orthopaedic and occupational rehabilitation, including post-injury rehabilitation.
Postural correction and education.
Chronic diseases management and treatment of patients who had undergone cardiac by-pass surgery, and/or suffered from coronary heart disease (CHD) or various chronic diseases like diabetes, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis etc.
Ante-natal and post-natal exercise therapy.
Insurance and executive wellness assessments which incorporated working in conjunction with a group of doctors. Primary responsibilities involved conducting a various fitness examinations which included rest and stress ECGs.
Ergonomic and wellness education to enhance corporate health. This involved onsite evaluations and/or seminars or courses for basic ergonomics and wellness education.
Role: Biokinetics Intern Company: Zululand University Duration: January 2002 – December 2002
I completed my internship in a Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Biokinetics.
Key responsibilities include:
Therapy at a remedial school which specialized in paediatrics. This included working with numerous ailments and syndromes, more specifically Downe Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder.
Rehabilitation at Coetzee Biokinetics Centre.
Floor supervision at the health centre.
Occupational therapy at Richards Bay Coal Terminal and Empangeni Afrox Medical Centre.
Role: Rehabilitation Co-ordinator and Post Graduate Student Company: Rhodes University Duration: January 1991 – December 2001
I complimented my theoretical studies with practical experience gained in a university managed orthopaedic rehabilitation centre. In addition I was a tutor to university Biomechanics, Statistics, Physiology and Anatomy students.
Key responsibilities:
Day to day management of the rehabilitation centre.
Orthopaedic rehabilitation.
Tutoring undergraduate students in Biomechanics, Statistics, Physiology and Anatomy
Involvement in various Human Factors Engineering evaluations for the following companies:
Firestone SA
Delta SA
Cadburys
Daimler Chrysler
East London General Hospital
South African Breweries (SAB)
South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
Patents and Publications
Publication in Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa December 1999, Volume 11, No. 2. Co-Author: Prof. Charteris. Title: “Situational Superiority in Strength Expression of Smaller Workers: Ergonomics Implications.”
ESSA (Ergonomics society of South Africa) Conference presenter, paper entitled: “Control Positioning and Design: The old and new Industrial Approach”
Publication in Journal of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa, 2002., “Control Positioning and Design; The old and new Industrial Approach”
Master of Science Dissertation: “The effect of control design and working posture on strength and work output: An Isokinetic Investigation”. 2002
Davies SEH and Van Schalkwyk CJ (2002). Anatomical and Physiological considerations for control positioning and design in industry. South African Congress on Sport Sciences, University of Pretoria, 30 September-02 October 2002
Davies SEH and van Schalkwyk CJ (2003). The effect of cold water immersion on grip strength and hand dexterity. South African Sports Medicine Congress, Spier Wine Farm, Cape Town, February, 2003
Representative on a Lower Back Pain and Occupational injuries research board (2005)
Education and Qualifications
1995-1997
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Bachelor of Art (BA) - Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE)
Majors: Human Kinetics and Ergonomics
Geography
1998
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Bachelor of Art (BA) (Hons) - Human Kinetics and Ergonomics
2001
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Master of Science - Ergonomics
2002
Zululand University, Kwazulu/Natal, South Africa
Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Hons) – Biokinetics (DISTINCTION)
Additional Courses:
2001 SARFU injury management and strapping course
2002 Hydrotherapy
2002 Meditrax Academy Adult CPR
2003 American Heart Foundation CPR and Coronary Risk Management.
2004 Microsoft Project Management
2004 MMH in Africa - Mital
Computer Literacy
I am fully computer literate (MS Office and MS Project) and have vast experience in report and publication writing. In addition, I have specialised training and experience in the following specialist pieces of equipment:
ERGOeaser
Cybex 6000 Isokinetic Dynamometry
CardioPerfect ECG
EMG
Oxycon Analyser
MetaMax Oxygen Analyser
Biomechanical Gait Analysis
Orthotron Vision Screener and Functional Acuity Contrast Test (F.A.C.T)