Our Charter

Department of Defense Ergonomics Working Group

1. AUTHORITY - The Department of Defense (DoD) Ergonomics Working Group is hereby established in accordance with the Secretary of Defense Memorandum dated September 18, 1993, Subject: "Defense Environmental Security Council and Committee Structure."
   
   
2. MISSION - The DoD Ergonomic Working Group will serve as the technical advisor to the DoD Components through the DoD Safety and Occupational Health Committee and partner with other Government agencies regarding the safety and health aspects of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The DoD Ergonomics Working Group will:

• Identify significant policy and program execution issues.
  
  
• Prepare DoD draft positions.
  
  
• Cross-feed across all DoD Components information on the technical aspects of ergonomics and DoD resources available for the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

3. ORGANIZATION/ADMINISTRATION

• The DoD Ergonomics Working Group is hereby authorized to operate for 5 years from date of signature on this charter.
  
  -The Chairperson shall serve as the single point of contact for official DoD Ergonomics Working Group communications. This does not restrict other informal communications.
  
  -During the fifth year, the DoD Ergonomics Working Group shall conduct a thorough self-assessment and, at the conclusion of this year, shall make a recommendation to the Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Safety and Occupational Health) with respect to the continuing need, if any, for a DoD Ergonomics Working Group.
  
  
• The Army is hereby designated to serve as Chair for the first two (2) years. The DoD Ergonomics Working Group will elect, by majority vote, the next Chair. The Chair position will rotate within the core membership.
  
  
• Any number of representatives from the membership may attend the DoD Ergonomics Working Group meetings. To facilitate decision making, the core membership will each identify a single DoD Ergonomics Working Group contact. This individual, or designated alternate, will hold voting privileges. His/her single vote will reflect consensus from his/her respective service/agency.
  
  
• To the degree possible, the DoD Ergonomics Working Group will maintain a balance in membership representation. The representation will be reviewed annually to assure all appropriate agencies and technical disciplines are represented.

4. MEMBERSHIP

• The core membership will consist of occupational safety and health representatives and health care providers from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Defense Agencies and General Services Administration. These members include functional area experts in areas such as workplace measurement, health effects, abatement techniques, education and training, and equipment.
  
  
• Ad hoc membership may consist of representatives from, but not limited to, the Army Research Laboratory (MANPRINT); Coast Guard; Corps of Engineers; Department of Energy; Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Program; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine; and industry.
  
  
• Any member leaving their current position will have the option of belonging to the ad hoc membership if their new position is within the Federal sector.

5. FUNCTIONS/PROCESS

• The DoD Ergonomics Working Group will provide written reports through Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Safety and Occupational Health) to the DoD Safety and Occupational Health Committee.
  
  
• As needed, the DoD Ergonomics Working Group will form subgroups to address specific issues and report back to the working group in the forum specified at the time of the formation.
  
  
• The DoD Ergonomics Working Group will meet at least once per year. At the end of each meeting, the DoD Ergonomics Working Group will determine the volunteer host/sponsor, date, location, and agenda for the next meeting.
  
  
• Changes to this charter require approval of a majority of the DoD Ergonomics Working Group voting membership.
  
  
• A recorder will attend each meeting and prepare minutes of the proceedings. The approved proceedings will be cumulatively indexed and maintained as an historical perspective and legacy to what was accomplished.
  
  
• Any member sending an alternate to the working group meeting must provide the previous proceedings as a read-ahead to the alternate

George W. Siebert, CIH
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
(Safety and Occupational Health)