Overview

Many businesses and industries are discovering they have problems with injuries caused by repetitive motion and stress. The effects of these injuries are not always easy to see, nor are the hidden costs involved: slower production, lower quality, job retraining, unemployment, long-term disabilities, and increased worker’s compensation costs.

In today’s highly complex, rapidly changing business environment, people in all types of work face increasing risks for these types of injuries. In one recent year over 281,000 injuries in the United States were caused by repetition disorders—more than double the number reported four years earlier. The most common types of these injuries are Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs).

Because of the increasing number of injuries caused by repetitive motion, excessive force, and/or awkward postures and positions, ergonomics has become a critical factor in workplace safety. Ergonomics is the science that seeks to adapt tasks and tools to fit the person. It’s a way of looking at the design of tasks, tools, equipment, workplace layouts and the overall organization of work to fit the job to the person, rather than the person to the job.

It’s important that supervisors and managers understand CTDs and how to prevent them. This knowledge will help supervisors and managers protect employees, enhance productivity, and control the costs associated with CTDs.

“Elements Of An Ergonomics Program” uses a practical and enlightening presentation along with twenty-seven interactions help your supervisors and managers quickly grasp ergonomic concepts and equip them to help create, support, and maintain a successful ergonomics program.

Introducing The Program

• Elements
• Costs

Take Action

• Start-Up
• Organize
• Action Plan
• Communicate
• Training

Task Analysis

• Elements
• Fixes

Improvements

• Effective Solutions

Ongoing Support

• Employee Suggestions
• Medical Management

Monitoring

• Initial Progress
• Continued Improvements

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
This course will measure mastery on each of the following performance objectives. Upon completion, workers will be able to...

Explain the Ergonomics Program

1. Describe the purpose of an Ergonomics Program.
   
2. Recall the three risk factors related to ergonomics.
   
3. Explain the process of handling an ergonomic problem in the workplace.
   

Calculate the benefits of the Ergonomics Program

1. List three direct costs associated with ergonomics-related injuries.
   

Acknowledge the need for an Ergonomics Program

1. Agree there is a need for ergonomics in the workplace.

Organize an Ergonomics Program at your workplace

1. List the initial steps of an Ergonomics Program.
   
2. Recognize the need to work as a team.
   
3. List the roles of an Ergonomics Program member.
   

Create a successful Action Plan

1. Explain an “Action Plan”.
   
2. Select the initial steps to take after developing the Action Plan.
   
3. Choose ways to communicate information.
   
4. Recall the need to communicate regularly and frequently.
   
5. Agree that training is a key element of an Ergonomics Program.