Introduction
Ergonomics includes the scientific study of people at work. The goal of ergonomics is to reduce stress and eliminate injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of soft tissues. There are many types of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, rotator cuff syndrome, sprains, and strains. These illnesses and injuries affect one or more parts of the musculoskeletal system.
This course will help you gain a basic understanding of the hazards and best practices associated with ergonomics in general industry by introducing you to practical ideas to help reduce the risk of repetitive stress injury in common general industry and construction tasks like manual material handling, and roofing.
Course Objectives
| ID | Objective |
|---|---|
| TO 1.0 | Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment. |
| LO 1.1.1 | Define ergonomics and the risks inherent with the worker, task, and environment. |
| LO 1.1.2 | Discuss risk factors in the worker including: age, gender, physical activity, strength and anthropometry. |
| LO 1.1.3 | Describe risk factors in the task including: force, vibration, repetition, recovery time, duration twisting, and posture. |
| LO 1.1.4 | Discuss risk factors in the environment including: illumination, sound, temperature, and psychosocial. |
| LO 1.1.5 | Define and give examples of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MDSs). |
| LO 1.2.1 | Describe the "Hierarchy of Controls" and how it relates to ergonomics improvement. |
| LO 1.2.2 | Define and give examples of ergonomics "engineering controls." |
| LO 1.2.3 | Define and give examples of ergonomics "administrative controls." |
| LO 1.2.4 | Define and give examples of ergonomics "personal protective equipment." |
| LO 1.2.5 | Describe safe lifting techniques. |
| LO 1.2.6 | Describe the steps in prioritizing making ergonomic improvements. |
Key: Terminal Objective (TO), Learning Objective (LO)