Arun Garg - UWM and Wisconsin Distinguished Professor
Industrial Engineering Chair



Contact Information

Office Address:
EMS E314
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Phone: 414-229-6240
Fax: 414-229-6958
Email: arun@uwm.edu

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 784
Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53201

 Arun Garg
Education

Ph.D. Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, August 1976
I.O.E (Professional Engineering Degree), Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, May 1973
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, 1971
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India, 1969

Research Interests

Ergonomics, Occupational Biomechanics, Biomechanical Job Evaluation, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Prevention of Low-Back and Upper Extremity Injuries, Epidemiology, Workstation Design, Work Physiology

Recent and Selected Publications

  1. Garg, A, 2007, “Applications of Biomechanics for Prevention of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders,” Ergonomics (Invited).
  2. Garg, A., Milholland,S., Deckow-Scaefer, G., and Kapellusch,J., 2006, “Justification for a Minimal Lift Program in Critical Care,” Special Issue on Safe patient handling and Movement, Critical Care Clinics of North America, (in press). (Invited).
  3. Garg, A., Hegmann, K.T., Kapellusch, J., 2006, “Short-Cycle Overhead Work and Shoulder Girdle Muscle Fatigue.”  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics.  Vol. 36, Pages 581-597.
  4. Garg, A., Hegmann, K.T., and Kapellusch, J. 2005, “Maximum One-handed Shoulder Strength for Overhead Work as a Function of Shoulder Posture in Females.”  Occupational Ergonomics, Vol.5, Pages 1-10. (Invited).
  5. Garg, A., Hegmann, K.T., Schwoerer, B.J. and Kapellusch, J.M., “The Effect of Maximum Voluntary Contraction on Endurance Times for the Shoulder Girdle.” International J. of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol. 30, 103-113, 2002.
  6. Garg, A., “Prevention of Work-Related Back Injuries Among Nurses and Other Medical Center Employees.” Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Robert R. Orford, Guest Editor, Vol 1, No. 2, 249-260, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, May 2001. (Invited).
  7. Fennigkoh, L., Garg, A., and Hart, B., “Mediating Effects of Wrist Reaction Torque on Grip  Force Production. International J. of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol 23, 293-306, 1999.
  8. Wang, M. J., Garg, A., Chang, Y., Shilo, Y., Wen-Yu, Y., and Cheng-Ling, L., “The Relationship between Low Back Discomfort Ratings and the NIOSH Lifting Index.” Human Factors, Vol. 40, No. 3, 509-515, 1998
  9. Moore, J. S. and Garg, A., “The Effectiveness of Participatory Ergonomics in the Red Meat Packing Industry: Evaluation of a Corporation.”  Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics, Vol. 21, pp. 47-58, 1998.
  10. Garg, A., “Reducing Safety and Ergonomic Hazards with a Zero-Lift Program.” Long Term Care, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 26-27, 1997. (Invited).
  11. Moore, J. S. and Garg, A., “Participatory Ergonomics in a Red Meat Packing Plant, Part 2, Case Studies. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Vol. 58, No. 7, pp. 498-508, 1997.
  12. King, P.M., Fisher, J. C. and Garg, A., “Evaluation of the Impact of Employee Ergonomics Training in Industry.” Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 249-256, 1997.
  13. Moore, J. S. and Garg, A., “Participatory Ergonomics in a Red Meat Packing Plant, Part 1, Evidence of Long-term Effectiveness.” American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 58 (2), pp. 127-131, 1997.
  14. Moore, J. S. and Garg, A., “Use of Participatory Ergonomics Teams to Address Musculoskeletal Hazards in the Red Meat Packing Industry.” Am. J. Ind. Med. 29 (4):  402-408, 1996.
  15. Garg, A., "Revised NIOSH Equation for Manual Lifting:  A Method for Job Evaluation," American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Journal, 43(4): 211-218, 1995. (Invited).
  16. Moore, J. S. and Garg, A., "The Strain Index: A Proposed Method to Analyze Jobs for Risk of Distal Upper Extremity Disorders," American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 56 (5): 443-458, 1995. (Received Best Paper of the Year Award from AIHA. One of the four ergonomic job analysis methods recommended by OSHA in the OSHA’s Proposed Ergonomics Standards in 2000).

Recent Conference Proceedings

  1. Garg A. and Hegmann, K.T., 2007, “Reducing Home Health Care Hazards in U.S.A.,” 7th Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference” Orlando, FL., March 12-16, 2007. (Invited).
  2. Garg, A., 2007, “Ergonomic Job Analyses: Some Challenging Issues,” State-of-the-Art Conference on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Salt Lake City, UT, March1-2, 2007. (Invited).
  3. Moore, J.S. and Garg, A., “The Strain Index,’” Special Session on Risk Assessment and Management of WMSDs-Applicative Tools and Software, Proceedings of IEA 2006, Masstricht, Netherlands, 2006. (Invited).
  4. Hegmann, K.T. Garg, A. and Moore, J.S., “ Predictability of the Strain Index for Shoulder Disorders,” Special Session on The Strain Index-a Method for Analyzing DUE Jobs, Proceedings of IEA 2006, Masstricht, Netherlands, 2006.  (Invited).
  5. Moore, J.S. and Garg, A., 2006. "The Validity and Reliability of the Strain Index,” Special Session on The Strain Index-a Method for Analyzing DUE Jobs, Proceedings of IEA 2006, Masstricht, Netherlands, 2006.  (Invited).
  6. Garg,A., 2006. "Composite Strain Index,” Special Session on The Strain Index-a Method for Analyzing DUE Jobs, Proceedings of IEA 2006, Masstricht, Netherlands, 2006.  (Invited).
  7. Garg,A., 2006. “Prevention of Injuries in Nursing Homes and Hospitals, Special Session on Healthcare Ergonomics, Proceedings of IEA 2006, Masstricht, Netherlands, 2006.  (Invited).
  8. Garg, A., 2006, Reducing Hazards to Hospital Workers, Proceedings of 6th Annual 2006 Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference. Clear Water Beach, FL., 2006. (Invited).
  9. Garg, A., 2006, Home Health Care Hazards, Proceedings of 6th Annual 2006 Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference. Clear Water Beach, FL., 2006. (Invited).
  10. Garg, A., 2005, “Risk Factors for Low-Back Pain: Preliminary Results from a Prospective Cohort Study,” Proceedings of Humanizing Work and Work  Environment (HWWE), International Ergonomics Conference, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India, December 10-12, 2005. (Invited).
  11. Garg, A, 2005, “ A Step-by-Step Approach for Zero-Lift Program in Healthcare: Justification, Implementation and Evaluation,” Proceedings of 5th Annual 2005 Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference. St. Pete beach, FL., February 28-March 4th, 2005. (Invited).
  12. Garg, A., 2005, “Long-Term effectiveness of Zero-Lift Patient Transfer Program.” Proceedings of 8th South East Asia Ergonomics Society Conference & 12th Indonesian Physiological Society Congress-15th Scientific Seminar.  Bali, Indonesia, May 23-25th, 2005. (Invited).
  13. Garg, A., 2005, “Ergonomics in Healthcare.” Proceedings of  XIX Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada, June 27-28, 2005.
  14. Thiese, M.S., Hegmann, K.T., Garg, A., 2004, Prevalence of Lateral Epicondylitis and Physical Examination Findings in a Cohort at Baseline.” The Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.  Premus 2004; 413-414.  ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, July 12, 2004.
  15. Hegmann, K.T., Thiese, M.S., Garg, A., 2004, “Biases and Confounders in Musculoskeletal Disorders.”  The Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.  Premus 2004; 161-162.  ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, July 14, 2004.
  16. Hegmann, K.T., Thiese, M.S., Garg, A., Moore, J.S., 2004, “Health Outcomes Assessments in Epidemiological Studies of Musculoskeletal Disorders.”  The Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.  Premus 2004; 159-160.  ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, July 14, 2004.
  17. Hegmann, K.T., Garg, A., Wertsch, J., Thiese, M.S., 2004, “Prevalence of Median Nerve Related Symptoms and Signs in a Cohort at Baseline.”  The Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.  Premus 2004; 485-486.  ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.  July 13, 2004. (Invited).
  18. Garg, A., Moore, J.S., Hegmann, K.T., 2004, “Multiple-Task Jobs and Job Rotations:  Some Considerations for Job Exposure Assessment.”  The Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Premus 2004; 167-168.  ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.  July 14, 2004. (Invited).
  19. Garg, A., Cykana, L.J., and Hegmann, K.T., “Effects of Cente of Mass and Wrist Posture on Maximum Grip Strength, Wrist Strength and Grip Force,” Proceedings of IEA 2003, Seoul, Korea, 2003. (Invited).
  20. Garg, A., “Long-Term Effectiveness of “Zero-Lift” Patient Transfer Program in Long-Term Care Facilities and Hospitals,” Proceedings of IEA 2003, Seoul, Korea, 2003. (Invited).
  21. Hegmann, K.T. and Garg, A., “In-Home Assessments of Manual Patient Transfers,” Proceedings of IEA 2003, Seoul, Korea, 2003.
  22. Garg, A. and Hegmann, K.T., “Maximum Acceptable Frequency for Females Performing One handed Short-Cycle Overhead Work ,” Proceedings of IEA 2003, Seoul, Korea, 2003. (Invited).
  23. Hegmann, K.T. and Garg, A., “Short-Cycle Overhead Work Simulation,” Proceedings of IEA 2003, Seoul, Korea, 2003.
  24. Garg,A. and Hegmann, K.T., “Safe Patient Handling & Movement in Home Care.” Proceedings of 3rd Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, 2003. (Invited).
  25. Garg,A., “ Reducing Injuries in Nursing Homes and Hospitals.” Proceedings of 3rd Annual Safe Patient Handling & Movement Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, 2003. (Invited).
  26. Garg, A., “The Effectiveness of a Zero-Lift Patient Transfer Program.” Proceedings of SEAMEC 2003 Conference, Kuching, Malaysia, May 2003.
  27. Garg, A., “Maximum Acceptable Frequency for Overhead Work.” Proceedings of SEAMEC 2003 Conference, Kuching, Malaysia, May 2003. (Invited).

Recent Grants and Funding

  1. Chronic Illness Risk Factors and Health promotion Among Commercial Truck Drivers
    Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NIOSH
    Role: Principal Investigator (UWM Sub-Contract)
    Dates: July 1, 2007-June 30, 2010
    Amount: $822,248
  2. Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders: Identifying Risk
    Source: Centers For Disease Control (CDC), NIOSH
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Dates: September 30, 2006-September 29, 2009
    Amount:$1,438,597
  3. Openfirst LLC Production Facility Evaluation and Design
    Source: Openfirst LLC, Milwaukee, WI
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Dates: December 12, 2005 to December 11, 2006
    Amount: $92,439
  4. Low Back Pain: Quantifying Risk Factors
    Source: Centers For Disease Control (CDC), NIOSH
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Dates: September 30, 2003-September 29, 2006
    Amount: $1,499,833
  5. Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders: Identifying Risk Factors
    Source: Centers For Disease Control (CDC), NIOSH
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Dates: September 30, 2002-September 29, 2006
    Amount: $1,997,930