A Viewpoint on Professional Conduct for Ergonomic Experts in Forensics

Abstract

This panel session explores the paradigm of professional conduct for ergonomic experts in the practice of forensics. A hypothesis of conduct is offered as a candidate guideline for professional conduct. This hypothesis is based on basic professionalism principles and has been adapted on the basis of observed experiences in the field, comments from other practicing professionals, and in the context of previous draft “codes” of professional conduct for human factors professionals and also for ergonomic forensics practitioners. The panelist contributions to this session range from a discussion of the need for and merits of a standard of professional conduct, to institutionalization of standards or codes of conduct, to the breadth and scope of professional involvement in forensics, to the mechanics of the actual practice of professional ergonomie forensics, to a comparative perspective from the related discipline of safety.