I am a Senior Lecturer within Psychology at the University of Derby. I work primarily in the fields of Behaviour Change and Ergonomics/Human Factors, lecturing at MSc level, but I also have some undergraduate commitments with optional third year psychology modules.
On the Behaviour Change programme I am Programme Lead and Pathway Lead for the Occupational Health & Safety pathway. I teach on a number of modules including Theories & Models of Behaviour, Occupational Health & Safety and Behaviour Change and Systems Context.
On the Ergonomics & Human Factors programme I teach on a range of subjects, including Approaches in Ergonomics, Physical Characteristics & Ergonomics and Systems & Ergonomics.
My primary undergraduate work relates to the Psychology of Pain.
My first degree is in Ergonomics from Loughborough University. I graduated back in 1990 and upon graduation I worked in consultancy for a dozen years, initially for Loughborough University and subsequently for Human Applications, an ergonomics and risk management company based in Loughborough. I became Director of Ergonomics for Human Applications Ltd and undertook a wide range of projects but my main focus was the avoidance and management of musculoskeletal disorders. This included everything from initial design work through to specialist assessments and expert witness work. Alongside my consultancy work, I provided a range of training courses including Display Screen Equipment and Manual Handling risk assessment.
My interest in musculoskeletal disorders was so great however that I decided to move out of consultancy and I took a Masters in Occupational Health Psychology at Nottingham before undertaking some research into back pain back at Loughborough University. I then joined the University of Derby to develop the Ergonomics MSc programme. My primary research interest remains musculoskeletal disorders, but I also have a big interest in behaviour change and a developing interest in issues around safety climate.
As a Chartered Ergonomics & Human Factors professional with the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors, I have a broad interest in the application of ergonomics expertise, methods and approaches to the improvement of work systems. Much of my work has been focused at the 'health' end of ergonomics (musculoskeltal disorders and stress), but I have also undertaken a range of projects looking at optimising human performance and reducing errors. I am increasingly involved in activities related to Behaviour Change, with recent work focusing on driver behaviour. I am also involved with research relating to Safety Climate and Safety Culture.
My primary research interests relate to the psychology of pain with a particular interest in how beliefs about pain impact upon painful experiences and how individuals cope and manage their pain. My research has been particularly focused on chronic pain and why some individuals fail to recover. The context for this has primarily been in relation to musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain and upper limb pain, but I have a broad interest in pain including pain in sport.
Alongside my research into pain, I have a developing interest in all aspects of behaviour change and an interest in safety climate, with a PhD student looking at the impact of key individuals’ personal characteristics on safety climate and safety performance.
Ward, R & Baird, A 2019 Increasing the use of pre and post-work protective hand creams by metal workers: A behaviour change intervention within industry. 2019 CBC Conference - Behaviour Change for Health: Digital and Other Innovative Methods.