About

At Work(s) Ergo Inc., we’re dedicated to producing task analysis software that is easy to use, while utilizing and fully integrating the most valid, science-based ergonomics assessment tools currently available. We believe that ergonomics must start to finally embrace the variability in task performance that we know exists, both within and between workers.

Our Work(s) software package uses a completely novel approach to ergonomics assessments – one that will greatly improve their reliability, accuracy and accessibility. Co-founders, Dr. Jim Potvin and Dr. Mike Agnew, have been teaching, researching and consulting in ergonomics for decades and have combined all their knowledge and experience into the most current, comprehensive, and integrated software package available on the market, with a primary focus on usability and utility for practitioners.

Jim Potvin, PhD, CCPE

Jim Potvin, PhD, worked as an Ergonomist at General Motors and was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph (1992-1997), then Assistant and Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor (1997-2006), then Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University (2006-2015), where he is now Professor Emeritus. He’s taught over 65 university courses. He’s a co-founder of, and currently teaches courses in, the University of California Berkeley COEH Online Ergonomics Program. Jim was a Board Member of Canadian College for the Certification of Canadian Ergonomists (2014-17) and their President in 2017.

Dr. Potvin is an author of the Liberty Mutual Manual Materials Handling (LM-MMH) Equations, the Maximum Acceptable Effort (MAE) Equation, the Arm Force Field method, the Recommended Cumulative Recovery Analysis and HandPak and BakPak software packages, among many other contributions to ergonomics practice. Since 1992, he’s supervised 72 graduate students and employed 75 graduates, published over 90 scientific articles, presented over 130 conference abstracts, written over 40 technical reports and secured over $3.8 million in research funds. His research was funded predominantly by Ford Motor Company, but also by the Automotive Partnership Canada and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD), AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, Canadian Foundation of Innovation and various automotive manufacturers. Jim’s been providing ergonomics and biomechanics consulting services since 1988, is the owner of Potvin Biomechanics Inc, and has consulted for many companies across the manufacturing, health care, and technology energy sectors.

Jim received the Research Partner Award by USCAR in 2012, and The Sir Frederic Bartlett Award for outstanding contributions to ergonomics/human factors research by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors in 2018 and the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) Triennial Outstanding Educators Award in 2021.

Michael Agnew, PhD, CCPE

Michael Agnew, PhD, worked as a Lecturer and Assistant Professor in the Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech from 2007-2016. Prior, as a graduate student, he worked as a Research Scientist, and Teaching Fellow at Queen’s University while he completed his graduate studies. He’s taught over 35 university courses. Since 2007, he’s advised or served as a member of 25 graduate student PhD and Masters committees, published 35 scientific articles, presented over 40 conference abstracts, and prepared 10 technical reports for industrial research partners.

As investigator and co-investigator, Dr Agnew’s research program and efforts received over $4.5 million in supportive funds. His research has been sponsored and supported by agencies and companies such as: NIOSH, WSIB, Carillion Health, Dominion Energy, The Boeing Company, Equipois, Stryker Medical, Toyota, and The Ford Motor Company. Past student research project sponsors include Airbus, Lewis Gale Health, Elizabeth Ardern, and General Electric. In addition, while at Virginia Tech, Dr. Agnew served as a technical advisor for the Virginia Tech Formula One SAE student team. Since returning to Canada, Dr. Agnew has provided ergonomics and human factors consultation to industry and research associates, and held teaching appointments at Ontario Tech University, Western University, and most recently within the Applied Ergonomic Studies Program at Fanshawe College located in London, Ontario, Canada.