The 2009 Liberty Mutual Medal in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics was awarded to Dr. Suman Singh at the IEA Congress in Beijing. Dr. Singh is from the College of Home Science, Udaipur, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Rajasthan, India. Selected by the International Ergonomics Association, the winning paper related to the technological empowerment of farm women to reduce their drudgeries, increase work efficiency in the context of agriculture and animal husbandry in seven States of India.

The committee was impressed by: (a) the systems approach of combining ergonomic design/redesign of quipment, development/application of a participatory training program involving and repeated field demonstrations in the proper use of the ergonomically improved farm instruments; and (b) the impact of the project, which directly benefitted 4,200 women, and potentially can benefit many more farm workers in IDC's.

The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and the IEA presents the annual Liberty Mutual Medal to recognize outstanding original research leading to the reduction of work-related injuries and/or to the advancement of theory, understanding, and development of occupational safety research. The Medal is awarded to the authors of an original scientific paper that meets criteria for innovation and impact. The most prestigious award of its kind in the field of occupational ergonomics and safety, it carries a stipend of $10,000. An international review committee, established by the IEA, selects the winning contribution from among the applicants worldwide.