Even though the Great Recession has passed, manufacturers in many industries are still adjusting to the reality of a downsized market struggling to get back to its glory days.

NEW YORK—Approximately 3.7 million workers are injured at work each year, costing businesses $170 billion annually. Injuries caused during material handling represent the majority of incidents, accounting for 32 percent of insurance claims.

DEARBORN, MI—Since 2003, Ford has reduced the injury rate by 70 percent for its more than 50,000 “industrial athletes” in the U.S., and many more around the world, through new ergonomics technology, lift-assist devices, workstation redesign and data-driven process changes.

DEARBORN, MI—Engineers at Ford Motor Co. have created virtual representations of employees— called “avatars”—to assess whether articulating arms and other ergonomic aids could help with assembly.

Assemblers in many different industries depend on all sorts of pneumatic, DC electric and battery powered tools for a wide variety of fastening applications. Unfortunately, the devices are also the source of countless ergonomic headaches for manufacturing engineers.

HARTWELL, GA—OSHA has cited Tenneco Automotive for 13 safety and health violations following an inspection at the supplier’s assembly plant here. Proposed fines total $62,000.

ANN ARBOR, MI—Humantech Inc. has added a new course, Managing an Ergonomics Process, to its seminar series in 2013. This one-day workshop will be held in Ann Arbor, MI, on April 25 and Sept. 19.

FORT WAYNE, IN—GM’s truck assembly plant here is taking the physical needs of aging workers into account when designing jobs on the assembly line.

MUNICH—BMW has implemented more than a dozen changes at its Dingolfing assembly plant to accommodate its aging workforce.

ANN ARBOR, MI—Humantech is hosting an hour-long webinar Aug. 8 that will address solutions to the 10 most common ergonomic problems in industrial workplaces.