News – Page 16 – Kathryn Woodcock, PhD CCPE ICAE PEng

Musculoskeletal disorders in sign language interpreters: A systematic review and conceptual model of musculoskeletal disorder development

Fischer, S.L., Marshall, M.M., Woodcock, K., 2012. Musculoskeletal disorders in sign language interpreters: A systematic review and conceptual model of musculoskeletal disorder development. WORK: a journal of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation 42, 173–184.

Impact of an idealized work to rest ratio on workload between novice and expert SLI

Johnson, R., Abdoli, M., Woodcock, K., Fischer, S., 2012 March 16. Impact of an idealized work to rest ratio on workload between novice and expert SLI. Ontario Biomechanics Conference, Barrie ON, 16 March.

Concurrent support for accident investigation involving human error

Woodcock, K., 2012. Concurrent support for accident investigation involving human error. Proceedings of the XXIV Annual International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety, Fort Lauderdale FL. pp. 97-104.

Safety first when it comes to amusement rides

Outdoor Amusement Business Association ShowTime 2012, August, p. 23.

As the July long weekend approaches, many families may be thinking about heading to an amusement park or summer festival for a fun day riding stomach-dropping roller coasters, Ferris wheels and spinning swings. Rides can be thrilling, and even a little scary, but most of the sensation of danger is a clever illusion.

Five amusement tips for kids: how not to have a bad day

TORONTO, June 26, 2012 – As the Canada Day long weekend approaches, many families may be thinking about heading to an amusement park or summer festival for a fun day riding stomach-dropping roller coasters, Ferris wheels and spinning swings. Rides can be thrilling, and even a little scary, but most of the sensation of danger is a clever illusion, says Kathryn Woodcock, an amusement ride expert at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Safety first for amusement rides: tips for parents

Behaviour malfunction

a child is seen diving headfirst into an inflatable amusement device below label saying "no diving, enter feet first"

Are we on the right page when we are trying to prevent misuse in the public / consumer environment?

Statistics consistently show that amusement ride injury investigators identify human behaviour as antecedents to failure, including the omission of actions that were required, actions performed which should not have been, and actions that were not performed with sufficient speed and accuracy.

Engineering, the obligation

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer is a moving experience. I keep the framed Obligation on my office wall immediately over my shoulder. Initiated by Prof. Haultain and written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), the ritual was first performed in 1925 to remind graduating engineers about critical ethical principles in the practice of their calling of engineering. The cost of engineering failure may be significant harm to others, and there is no room for compromise on good workmanship.

Scary-safe rides

One of the most common questions I receive both in small-talk conversations and media interviews (such as _this one_), is how rides can be scary and safe at the same time. A student asserted to me just the other day that rides were “notoriously dangerous”. This is actually quite inaccurate.

Amusement ride safety: who “does” it?

Several people stand inside a covered amusement ride discussing what they are looking at, as patrons stand outside hoping to ride,

There is considerable diversity from jurisdiction to jurisdiction about portable carnival ride inspection. However no rides go uninspected.