Course description
This course explores topics in ergonomics and allows students to examine how changes made to the person, the environment, and the nature of routine tasks, promote safety throughout an individual's lifespan. The course focuses on the prevention of occupational injuries, increased productivity, comfort, and safety. In this course, students develop the skills and knowledge required to perform basic ergonomic assessments.
Course content
- Introduction to ergonomics
- Human factors in ergonomics
- Information processing and sensory processes
- Risk factors and risk assessment
- Design
- Designs to reduce human errors
- Biomechanics
- Occupational biomechanics
- Tissue biomechanics
- Mechanisms of injury
- Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
- Musculoskeletal anatomy
- Common musculoskeletal disorders caused by exposure to work-place risk factors
- Injury and disorder prevention
- Anthropometry
- Measurements
- Databases and resources
- Ergonomic principles based on anthropometry
- Common workplace postures and movements
- Standing
- Sitting
- Reaching
- Moving
- Hand tools
- Tool selection
- Design
- Relationship between performance and safety
- Vibration
- Sources of vibration
- Risk of potential injury
- Reducing vibration
- Workstation design in various industries
- Office ergonomics
- Industrial workplaces and trades
- Health Care industry
- Transportation industry
- Universal Design Considerations
- Wheelchairs
- Crutches, canes, and walkers
- Knobs, handles, and stairs
- Ergonomics at home and play
- Ergonomic considerations in the home
- Ergonomic considerations for common hobbies
- Conducting an ergonomic assessment
- Models of ergonomic assessment
- Communicating the findings of an ergonomic assessment
Learning activities
Class time will be used for lectures, discussions, practical application, group work, and case-study analysis.
Means of assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
Participation 0-10%
Case Studies 15-30%
Research Project 0-25%
Test(s) or Quizzes 0-20%
Workplace Assessment Project 20-30%
Final Exam 10-30%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- describe how ergonomics can be applied to improve workplace productivity and decrease risk of injury;
- observe and report on the physical demands of a workplace;
- select the appropriate tools to assess risk in the workplace;
- describe how the concepts of ergonomics apply at work, home, and play;
- solve practical issues using strategies and methodologies in the field of ergonomics;
- assess personal and psychosocial factors that could exacerbate work-related biomechanical risk factors;
- describe the hierarchy of control and suggest feasible and cost-effective interventions to control work-related risk factors at multiple levels;
- utilize appropriate anthropometric data in various everyday designs;
- describe the biomechanical risk factors associated with different industries;
- assess a workplace for ergonomics and produce a report to summarize the findings.
Textbook materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Stack, T. et al. (Current Edition). Occupational Ergonomics. A Practical Approach. John Wiley.