2 Day Advanced Ergonomics Course

This hands on 2 day ergonomic course will provide any one the knowledge and confidence to tackle and solve their ergomomic problems as well as build a solid ergonomics program at their facility. 

Learn advanced ergonomic concepts:

• Risk factors that cause ergonomic injuries and how to prevent them
• How to do Ergonomic Job Evaluation
• Hands on Ergonomic Engineering case studies
• Hands on use of Job Evaluation System
• Ergonomic Design Guidelines
• How to set up an effective ergonomic program
• Includes 250 page 3 ring Ergonomic Training Reference Manual
• Ergonomic Job Evaluation Method Forms 

Who Should Attend?

• Managers
• Supervisors
• Engineers
• Ergonomic Committee Members
• Company Safety Professionals
• Medical Staff

Instructors

Lee DeYoung, ASP

Kevin Costello, CPE

Course Agenda Course Goals and Objectives

The goal of this course is to have the attendees apply the basic principles of ergonomics related to prevention of industrial back injuries, upper extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) and to gain an understanding of significant ergonomic issues affecting their industry. They will be given the knowledge and skills to implement programs in ergonomics, perform ergonomic job analyses, devise injury prevention strategies, develop solutions to abate ergonomic hazards and complete cost/benefit analyses. With these capabilities, the attendees will be able to justify ergonomic improvements for budgetary commitments and develop independent programs within their own work environments.

Day 1:

9:00 a.m. : Ergonomics, a Holistic Approach • Ergonomics goals & objectives • Defining human efficiency & productivity • The ergonomics decision model Exercise 1: Biofeedback demonstration : The effects of posture and muscle effort • Ergonomics program design • Employee roles & responsibilities • Injury reporting and tracking • Examples of ergonomics in the workplace Exercise 2: Group exercise: Attendees identify ergonomics issues in their business

10:30-10:45 Morning Refreshment 10: 45 Integrating Ergonomics in the Business Process • The ergonomics value chain • Business tracking metrics • Benchmarking against world class performance Exercise 3: Group Discussion: Strategies for Implementing Ergonomics • Ergonomics & Lean manufacturing • Six-sigma strategies • Kaizen teams in ergonomics • Effective Policies & Procedures • Cost benefit analyses & return on investment Case Studies : Enhancing Productivity & Quality while Reducing Injuries

12: 30 to 1:30 Luncheon

1:30 Identification of the Ergonomics Risk Factors : Part 1 • Working Postures  Definition of the neutral posture  Upper extremities  Torso and spine  Seated postures  Exposure limits Exercise 4: Biofeedback demonstration : Spinal posture and muscle effort • Force  Internal and external force exposures  Measuring working forces  Establishing limits  Examples of reducing working forces • Repetition  Defining repetition levels  Repetition verses injury potential  Establishing limits

3:00-3:15 Afternoon refreshments

3:15: Identification of the Ergonomics Risk Factors : Part 2 • Vibration  Definition of whole body & hand/arm vibration  International standards & exposure limits  Fatigue decreased proficiency  Vibration abatement strategies • Contact Stress  Identifying contact stress in the workplace  Design criteria and limits of exposure  Methods to eliminate contact stress Ergonomics Product Examples: Optimizing posture & fit, reducing forces, contact stress and vibrations • Environmental Factors  Effects of temperature & humidity on human capacity  Lighting & glare  Guidelines for lighting based on visual requirements  Noise limits and abatement strategies • Personal Factors  Sources of poor work technique  Establishing work performance criteria  Behavioral aspects of ergonomics Case Study: Monitoring and controlling employee behavior, examples for major corporations

5:00 End of day 1

Day 2:

9:00 Ergonomics Evaluation Methods • Anthropometric methods

 Population size and strength characteristics  Applying anthropometric data to job design

Group Exercise 5: Designing equipment and workstations to optimize employee fit • Work physiology  Definitions of static and dynamic work  Defining the limits of human physiologic capacity  Simple methods for estimating physiologic work demands  Objective techniques for measuring physiologic work demands  Calculating efficient work/rest ratios

Exercise 6 : Demonstration, the application of static exertions and the effects on strength and fatigue.

10:30-10:45 Morning Refreshment

10:45 Analysis of manual materials handling tasks  Application of formulas to determine safe lifting limits  Designing lifting tasks to optimize human performance  Effective use of materials handling aides

Group Exercise 7: Calculation of safe lifting limits in manual materials handling operations • Software based tools  Physiologic measurement  3-D Human CAD simulation Exercise 8: Demonstration of ergonomics simulation tools for analysis and design Criteria Used in the Ergonomic Design of Tools, Equipment and the Workplace • Workstation Design guidelines • Tool & Equipment guidelines • Developing the ergonomics specification • Examples of off-the-shelf products Case Study: Application of ergonomics design criteria by major corporations

12: 30 to 1:30 Luncheon

1:30 Workplace Assessment Techniques • Risk Factor Analysis Methods • Employee Survey Methods • Injury Log Assessment • Prioritizing ergonomics exposures and implementation strategy • Sample job analyses of videotaped operations

Group Exercise 9: Performance of ergonomics job analyses and solution development

3:00-3:15 Afternoon refreshments

3:15 Office Ergonomics • Ergonomics issues in the office • Setting up the office • Examples of products & equipment • Software based solutions Case Study : The effects of office ergonomics programs on productivity and injuries at major corporations