Czech Ergonomics Society

The Czech Ergonomics Society (Česká ergonomická společnost, ČES) is a voluntary, independent professional association of individuals and legal entities whose mission is to support the development of ergonomics and its application in practice. It brings together scientists researching the multidisciplinary field of ergonomics (human factors), specialized educators, and professionals who apply research results in practice. Because ergonomics is inherently multidisciplinary, the society's focus connects with the Czech Medical Society, the Czech-Moravian Psychological Society, the Association of Traffic Psychologists, the Society of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, and the Society of Occupational Medicine. The society was founded in 1990 as a civic association, continuing the work of the ergonomics society of the Czechoslovak Scientific and Technical Society (ČSVTS), which operated until 1990. Its original seat was at the Occupational Safety Research Institute, with which it cooperated professionally; since 2020 its registered seat has been at the Czech Technical University in Prague 6. The first chairman after 1990 was Lubor Chundela, followed by Vladimír Glivický, Stanislav Malý, and Lukáš Šoltys. Many other experts have served on its board, including L. Bělohlávková, Michaela Bendová, Marek Bureš, Tomáš Fassati, Sylva Gilbertová, Martin Kyncl, and Helena Prokopová. ČES supports communication among experts, promotes the field to the public, organizes seminars and conferences, and provides professional consultations. It cooperates with many partners, such as the Occupational Safety Research Institute in Prague, the Academy of Work and Health of the Czech Republic, the Institute of Information Design, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, and the Slovak Ergonomics Society. It is a member of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES). The society is active in publishing, mostly in cooperation with partners. Its most significant publications include a three-volume symposium proceedings on ergonomics in public transport (two volumes published so far), prepared with the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague and the Museum of Art and Design Benešov; the yearbook Czech Ergonomics 2015, containing mainly contributions from the "Ergonomics and Stress" conference; and a scientific proceedings from the "Applied Ergonomics" conference with the Czech Technical University. Since 2020, ČES has offered a course and follow-up examination for the professional qualification "Ergonomics Specialist" within the National Qualifications Framework, in cooperation with the Occupational Safety Research Institute in Prague as the authorized body. The society also co-organizes the Czech Ergonomics Prize, first awarded in 2007, and in 2020 introduced an Anti-Prize for Ergonomics highlighting negative ergonomic qualities. Its project "Ergonomics into Schools," supported by the Premedis Foundation, aims to improve knowledge about ergonomics for children and school equipment.

The Czech Ergonomics Society (ČES) was founded in 1990 as a civic association, directly continuing the ergonomics society of the Czechoslovak Scientific and Technical Society (ČSVTS), which had operated until 1990. The ČSVTS itself was established in 1955 as the Council of Branch Scientific and Technical Societies at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences; it had regional sections that supported regional activities of its societies, including the ergonomics one. ČES originally had its seat at the Occupational Safety Research Institute (Výzkumný ústav bezpečnosti práce), with which it cooperated professionally. Since 2020, its registered seat has been at the Czech Technical University in Prague 6. The first chairman after 1990 was Lubor Chundela, followed by Vladimír Glivický, Stanislav Malý, and Lukáš Šoltys. The board has included many other experts, such as L. Bělohlávková, Michaela Bendová, Marek Bureš, Tomáš Fassati, Sylva Gilbertová, Martin Kyncl, and Helena Prokopová. Throughout its existence, ČES has supported communication among experts, promoted ergonomics to the public, prepared seminars and conferences, and provided professional consultations. It cooperates with many partners, including the Occupational Safety Research Institute in Prague, the Academy of Work and Health of the Czech Republic, the Institute of Information Design, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, and the Slovak Ergonomics Society. It is a member of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES). In publishing, ČES has produced, mostly with partners, a three-volume symposium proceedings on ergonomics in public transport (two volumes published so far) with the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague and the Museum of Art and Design Benešov; the yearbook Czech Ergonomics 2015, containing mainly contributions from the "Ergonomics and Stress" conference; and a scientific proceedings from the "Applied Ergonomics" conference with the Czech Technical University. In 2017, after seventeen years of activity, the society's leadership awarded extraordinary recognition for lifetime contribution to ergonomics to MUDr. Sylva Gilbertová and Ing. Lubor Chundela. In 2019, extraordinary awards followed for Ing. Helena Prokopová and Mgr. Tomáš Fassati. During long preparation, ČES provided the professional and administrative methodology for the training and certification of ergonomics specialists. Since 2020, it has therefore been possible to take a course and follow-up examination to obtain the professional qualification "Ergonomics Specialist" within the National Qualifications Framework. The preparation was carried out in cooperation with the Occupational Safety Research Institute in Prague, which is the authorized body for this purpose. On that occasion, the first six Czech examination commissioners in the field were appointed. ČES is one of the main organizers of the Czech Ergonomics Prize, an inspirational award promoting the importance of ergonomic qualities of everyday products. It is not announced annually but always for a period of several years when convincing nominations are gathered. It was first awarded in 2007, for a personal communication set (notebook, phone, glasses with headphones) that avoided common defects in interconnection and control, and for a furniture trio (seat, kneeling chair, table) for ergonomic work with a notebook. Further prizes were announced in 2010, 2013, and 2020. At the last award ceremony, an Anti-Prize for Ergonomics was newly announced, illustrating negative ergonomic qualities. Co-organizers of the awards included the Institute of Information Design and some universities.

• 2026

  Another run of the "Ergonomics Specialist" course scheduled for 13–14 October and 11 November, with examination on 15–16 December.

• 2025

  Czech Ergonomics Society supported the 35th National Student Design Award and awarded its own prize.

• 2020

  Professional qualification "Ergonomics Specialist" launched within the National Qualifications Framework; seat moved to Czech Technical University in Prague 6; Czech Ergonomics Prize awarded and Anti-Prize for Ergonomics introduced.

• 2019

  Extraordinary awards for Ing. Helena Prokopová and Mgr. Tomáš Fassati.

• 2017

  Extraordinary recognition for lifetime contribution to ergonomics awarded to MUDr. Sylva Gilbertová and Ing. Lubor Chundela.

• 2010

  Czech Ergonomics Prize awarded again.

• 2007

  Czech Ergonomics Prize first awarded.

• 1990

  Czech Ergonomics Society founded as a civic association, continuing the ergonomics society of ČSVTS.

• 1955

  Czechoslovak Scientific and Technical Society (ČSVTS) established as the Council of Branch Scientific and Technical Societies at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, with regional sections including ergonomics.

Voluntary, independent professional association promoting ergonomics research, education, and practice in the Czech Republic.

• Professional qualification course "Ergonomics Specialist"

  Preparatory course and authorized examination for the professional qualification "Ergonomics Specialist" within the National Qualifications Framework, organized with the Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs (formerly VÚBP).

• Czech Ergonomics Prize

  Inspirational award promoting the importance of ergonomic qualities of everyday products, first awarded in 2007 and subsequently in 2010, 2013, and 2020.

• Anti-Prize for Ergonomics

  Introduced in 2020 to illustrate negative ergonomic qualities.

• Ergonomics into Schools project

  Project supported by the Premedis Foundation to increase knowledge about ergonomics for children, improve school furniture, and teach correct movement stereotypes.

1. 1Česká ergonomická společnost – official websiteergonomicka.cz
2. 2Česká ergonomická společnost – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Česká ergonomická společnost – Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org