Office Ergonomics Training
In this Information Age, an amazing amount of information is available literally at our fingertips.
The use of computers and related technology has revolutionized most jobs and created endless possibilities for new ones.
While doing these jobs may require only small amounts of physical activity, we bring our whole bodies to work. And in order for us to work as efficiently as possible, we must accommodate our bodies by providing a safe, comfortable workplace. In the past, the workplace was designed to move products and support machines efficiently. Since people always seemed so adaptable, how they fit into the workplace received less attention. But because of the increasing number of injuries caused by repetitive motion and stress - known as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) - 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 designs of tasks, tools, equipment and workplace layouts and the overall organization of work to fit the job to the person, rather than the person to the job.
By understanding ergonomics - and how to analyze and adapt work to avoid ergonomic health hazards - everyone can work in ways that reduce the risks for MSDs, control the costs associated with these injuries and increase everyone’s safety.
The Blueprints for Safety© Office Ergonomics Program is designed to provide a step-by-step approach to developing an office ergonomics program for your company. This program will help you analyze and adapt jobs to make them safer and train employees to understand how to work in ways that protect them from injury.
In addition, by implementing an office ergonomics program (as described in this guide), you will be in compliance with the OSHA Ergonomics Program Standard.
The outcomes of your office ergonomics program will be as follow:
- To understand MSDs and the basic principles of ergonomics
- To inform employees about common MSDs, MSD signs and symptoms and the kinds of risk factors, jobs and work activities likely to cause MSDs
- To ensure that employees know how to report MSDs and the importance of early reporting
- To establish an MSD management process
- To be able to identify the MSD risk factors in your workplace
- To be able to analyze jobs for the hazards they pose and take measures to control or reduce those hazards
By creating a program for office ergonomics in the workplace, you can help everyone understand the importance of working in ways that keep them healthy.
