Erwin Speklé has developed a focused and practice-oriented academic profile within physical ergonomics, with particular emphasis on the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in occupational settings. His work is characteristic of applied ergonomics, integrating biomechanics, epidemiology, and occupational health to design and evaluate evidence-based preventive interventions.

He has a multidisciplinary background in physical therapy, occupational health, and ergonomics. While working as a certified professional ergonomist, he obtained his PhD at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with the dissertation “Effectiveness of an intervention program on arm, shoulder and neck symptoms in computer workers.” His career has consistently been positioned at the interface of research and professional practice, including affiliations with the Amsterdam UMC research environment and Arbo Unie Occupational Health Services. He is a certified European Ergonomist and has held several leadership roles within the Dutch ergonomics field.

His work focuses on optimizing human well-being and system performance within organizations, combined with applied scientific research in physical ergonomics and MSD prevention. He currently serves as Senior Consultant for national and international organizations and as Ergonomics Lead at Arbo Unie, one of the largest occupational health service providers in the Netherlands—a role he has held for over 25 years. In addition, he is a Senior Researcher at the Arbo Unie Knowledge Center for Work and Health and a Senior Guest Researcher at the Department of Public and Occupational Health at Amsterdam UMC, where he supervises PhD candidates.

Since 2017, Dr. Speklé has led an Academic Collaborative Center between Amsterdam UMC and Arbo Unie. This collaboration aims to strengthen the quality and academization of ergonomics through research in physical ergonomics and MSD prevention, supported by data sharing and the development of innovative methodologies.

Throughout his career, he has actively contributed to the advancement and dissemination of human factors and ergonomics, including engagement with media and serving as an expert reviewer for major research funding programmes, such as those of the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).

Dr. Speklé has played an important role in the development of ergonomics at both national and international levels. During the 1990s, while working in Norway, he served on the executive committee of the NFF Ergonomics Group and coordinated the “Workplace Design” network for both the Norwegian and Nordic Ergonomics Societies. After returning to the Netherlands, he served as President of Human Factors NL (2014–2018). During this period, he also held positions as Council Member of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), Board Member of the Foundation for the Registration of Ergonomists (SRe), and Council Member of the Federation of European Ergonomics Societies (FEES).

He has been a member of the editorial board of IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors since 2017 and has contributed to numerous scientific committees for international conferences, including those of the IEA, ICOH, and PREMUS. Since 2018, he has served on the Advisory Board of Human Factors NL. Since 2021, he is Co-Chair of the IEA Technical Committee on Musculoskeletal Disorders, and since 2025, he serves as Treasurer of the Centre for Registration of European Ergonomists (CREE), the body endorsed by the IEA for the certification of professional ergonomists in Europe.