Ergonomics and safety for beginners

A practical introduction to preventing accidents and injuries at work.

THIS COURSE was originally designed primarily for supervisors, but is suitable for anybody with responsibility for any aspect of workplace safety. It covers the essential ergonomics of posture, layout, workplace setup, healthy habits and self-management techniques aimed at comfortable, safe and productive outcomes for all.

Material presented will include an outline of current safety legislation; how to identify risks; how to prioritise risks, and how to develop an action plan. The course will also include treatment of the following:  relevant legislation, Regulations, Codes of Practice; how to run a safety meeting; keeping records; protective equipment; role of safety representatives; safety policies.

Particular risks are identified and discussed (the risks selected depend upon the participants, and their own usual work settings).  Office-based participants nreceive information about workplace layout, seating, trips and falls, manual handling, overuse strain prevention and environmental issues.  Field and factory staff receive information about plant and equipment, travel risks, manual handling, guarding, and environmental factors relevant to their type of work.

The modern science of ergonomics is introduced to show how risks can be more accurately identified in practice (and better solutions developed) by understanding the human factors present in work tasks, communication and planning. Body sizing, human strngth, the limitations of the senses, and strain injury avoidance are all treated.

Course duration: one half day. Available in capital cities, and regionally by arrangement.

This course can be extended to a full day, where opportunities for field inspections and practical work are available. 

Presenter: the course will be presented by a well qualified and experienced ergonomist with several years’ experience in implementing and advising on safety issues in a wide range of iindustries. More details of presenters ...