Ergonomist Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Ergonomics and Its Scope

Covers the formal definition, subdisciplines, and boundaries of ergonomics. Anchors all subsequent learning in a shared conceptual framework.

Lesson 2 • Ergonomics in Organizational Context

Positions ergonomics within business strategy, safety management, and productivity goals. Connects ergonomic outcomes to measurable organizational benefits.

Lesson 3 • Human Capabilities and Limitations

Examines sensory, motor, and cognitive capacities that define human performance boundaries. Provides the biological basis for ergonomic design decisions.

Lesson 1 • Posture Analysis and Joint Loading

Teaches how posture deviations increase joint stress and injury risk. Students link specific postures to anatomical structures under load.

Lesson 2 • Musculoskeletal Anatomy Essentials

Reviews bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves relevant to occupational injury. Provides anatomical vocabulary used throughout biomechanical analysis.

Lesson 3 • Biomechanical Principles and Forces

Explains force, torque, compression, and shear as they apply to the human body. Students calculate basic joint loads from workplace postures.

Lesson 1 • Systematic Risk Inventory Methods

Introduces structured approaches to documenting and prioritizing identified risk factors. Students build a complete risk inventory from a workplace scenario.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Risk Factors

Covers thermal stress, lighting, noise, and workspace layout as contributors to ergonomic risk. Students assess environmental conditions using standard criteria.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive and Organizational Risk Factors

Examines mental workload, time pressure, shift work, and poor job design as ergonomic hazards. Broadens risk identification beyond physical exposures.

Lesson 1 • Assessment Reliability and Validity

Addresses inter-rater reliability, tool validity, and sources of assessment error. Students apply strategies to improve consistency and defensibility of assessments.

Lesson 2 • Manual Handling Assessment Methods

Covers biomechanical and psychophysical tools for evaluating lifting, pushing, and pulling tasks. Students calculate acceptable load limits and identify redesign needs.

Lesson 3 • Measurement-Based Assessment Techniques

Covers direct measurement using goniometers, force gauges, and electromyography. Students collect and interpret objective exposure data to supplement observational tools.

Lesson 4 • Observational Posture Assessment Tools

Teaches RULA, REBA, OWAS, and similar observational methods for posture scoring. Students apply each tool and compare their outputs on the same task.

Lesson 1 • Human Error Classification and Analysis

Covers skill-based, rule-based, and knowledge-based error types and their causes. Students classify errors from incident reports and identify contributing system factors.

Lesson 2 • Designing for Error Reduction

Applies forcing functions, feedback design, standardization, and procedure improvement to reduce error. Students redesign a high-error task using cognitive design principles.

Lesson 3 • Mental Workload Assessment

Introduces subjective, performance-based, and physiological methods for measuring mental workload. Students apply NASA-TLX and secondary task methods to job scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Display and Control Interface Design

Covers principles for designing visual displays, alarms, and physical controls to match cognitive capabilities. Students evaluate and redesign a workplace interface.

Lesson 1 • Task and Job Redesign Strategies

Addresses task restructuring, job enlargement, and pacing changes as ergonomic interventions. Students redesign a job to reduce cumulative exposure without reducing output.

Lesson 2 • Intervention Effectiveness Evaluation

Teaches pre- and post-intervention assessment, exposure metrics, and outcome tracking. Students design an evaluation plan to verify that an intervention achieved its goals.

Lesson 3 • Workstation and Tool Redesign

Covers principles for redesigning workstations, tools, and equipment to reduce physical exposure. Students generate redesign options and evaluate their expected risk reduction.

Lesson 4 • Hierarchy of Controls in Ergonomics

Applies elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to ergonomic hazards. Establishes the decision framework for all intervention design.

Lesson 1 • Continuous Improvement and Program Sustainability

Applies plan-do-check-act cycles and management review to sustain and improve ergonomics programs. Students design a review process that drives ongoing program maturity.

Lesson 2 • Worker Participation and Training

Covers participatory ergonomics methods and the design of effective worker training programs. Students develop a training plan and a worker involvement mechanism.

Lesson 3 • Ergonomics Program Structure and Governance

Defines program components, roles, accountability structures, and policy requirements. Students draft a program charter aligned with organizational safety management systems.

Lesson 4 • Job Hazard Analysis and Prioritization

Applies systematic job hazard analysis to identify and rank ergonomic risks across a facility. Students build a prioritized job list using exposure and injury data.

Lesson 1 • Ergonomics Research and Evidence Appraisal

Develops skills to critically evaluate ergonomics research and apply evidence to practice decisions. Students appraise a body of literature and derive practice recommendations.

Lesson 2 • Professional Ethics and Practice Standards

Covers ethical obligations, professional conduct standards, and scope of practice for certified ergonomists. Students analyze ethical dilemmas and apply professional codes to resolve them.

Lesson 3 • Macroergonomics and Organizational Design

Examines how organizational structure, culture, and work systems shape ergonomic outcomes. Students analyze an organization's sociotechnical system and recommend structural changes.

Lesson 4 • Ergonomics in System and Facility Design

Applies ergonomics principles during the design phase of facilities, processes, and equipment. Students conduct a design review and produce ergonomic specifications.