The Ohio State University Ergonomics Workplace Assessments
- Comprehensive ergonomics analyses of production systems, using quantitative assessment techniques.
- Evaluations of tools and equipment used in manufacturing and production environments, to determine their impact on production, efficiency, and injury risk.
- Assessments of computer workstations, by addressing the worker-job-equipment interaction to guide recommendations for improvements.
- Fees for consulting services are competitively priced; discount rates apply for non-profit groups and OSU offices and departments.
Ergonomics Training
The Institute for Ergonomics provides several types of training programs to fit the needs of our clients. Lectures are integrated with examples, case studies from our consulting services, hands-on demonstrations, and class workshops. Class sizes are kept low to encourage participation. Topics covered typically include:
- The importance of understanding body size differences (anthropometry)
- Structure and muscle function of the back, hand/wrist, shoulder, and neck
- Basic biomechanical principles and how they apply to the major joints in the body
- The use of several state-of-the-art ergonomics assessment tools
- Principles of office ergonomics
- Cognitive ergonomics issues
- How psychosocial and work organization factors impact employee health
- How to set up and maintain an effective ergonomics process
The Institute has developed and regularly conducts several types of training programs. On-Site courses are conducted at the client’s facility and customized to meet specific needs and interests. These include:
Awareness Training of Basic Ergonomics Concepts for Hourly Employees
Our experience has shown that an awareness of ergonomics is important to employees doing the work most affected by job changes. They need to understand why an ergonomics assessment was (or is to be) performed in their department, how ergonomics principles can be used to improve their working conditions and reduce their potential for injury, and how, when, and to whom they should report physical discomfort and symptoms of cumulative trauma. The training given to each group will involve the following topics:
- Introduction (the "what" and "why" of ergonomics);
- The employee's role in implementing ergonomics-related changes to the jobs;
- Recognizing the occurrence of cumulative trauma disorders and the importance of early reporting and prevention; and
- The process for reporting physical discomfort, injuries, and suggestions.
Ergonomics Awareness and Process Training for Upper Management
The success with which ergonomic job changes are implemented in a workplace often hinges on supervisors and managers. Their acceptance of or resistance to the ergonomics approach is likely due to their perception and understanding of this discipline. As such, it is important to give this group of individuals a brief review of how ergonomics can make their jobs easier, as it does with the hourly employees. Thus, recommended training topics include:
- Introduction to ergonomics principles, including important definitions;
- Workplace injuries and their costs;
- A brief review of basic ergonomics principles (i.e., the impact of employee body size differences; anatomy of the low back, hand & wrist, and shoulder joints; how the body develops cumulative trauma);
- Understanding workplace biomechanics;
- How ergonomics is most effectively integrated into a work process (e.g., effective ergonomics models used in other industries, importance of worker participation, the impact of implementing ergonomics, and case studies); and an
- An ergonomics workshop.
In-depth Ergonomics Training
This level of training is for those who will be primarily responsible for addressing future ergonomics concerns in the facility. This training will teach participants:
- How an effective ergonomics process is established and sustained;
- The importance of addressing body size differences in employees;
- Basic ergonomics and biomechanical principles, and how these principles apply to each major section of the body (e.g., the hands & wrists, the shoulders, the back, and the neck);
- Several of the latest evaluation tools used by ergonomists to assess injury risk; and
- How to develop solutions to improve working conditions.
All ergonomics training courses are filled with examples, demonstrations, and class exercises.
Bi-Annual Ergonomics Short Courses
Our popular course, "Putting Ergonomics into Practice," is held at The Ohio State University's main campus in Columbus, Ohio. This course:
- Typically occurs in the Spring (May) and the Autumn (October);
- Attracts a wide variety of participants, including safety & health professionals, healthcare workers, engineers, risk & loss control managers, union representatives, managers & supervisors, and HR personnel;
- Is limited in enrollment, to ensure full class participation; and
- Offers CEU credits.
Contact the Institute (ergonomics@osu.edu) to be added to our mailing list of upcoming courses.
Establishing Ergonomics Processes
To be effective, ergonomics must be systematically integrated into the daily functions of a workplace. This requires an understanding of how to gain the support of management and labor, how an ergonomics team should best interact with the work environment and the employees doing the work, and how medical and ergonomics professionals can assist in this process.
Institute members have successfully implemented ergonomics processes into a wide range of industrial environments and used their experience to teach ergonomics teams how to maintain the process to continue its success.