OHS Knowledge Areas in Manufacturing

807: Ergonomics and human factors

Ergonomics is the study of people in their working environment and can incorporate workplace processes, workstations, task design, and facility design. Poor ergonomic setups or practices are a common root or direct cause of workplace injuries. It is important that the OHS professional understands the limits of their own knowledge, and recognizes when it is necessary to bring in additional expertise.

In order to act as an effective resource in their workplace, the OHS professional should be familiar with:

– Legislation, regulations, guidelines, and standards that pertain to ergonomics
– How the human body can be injured through workplace processes
– Body postures
– Forced postures
– Posture repetition
– Concepts related to “anthropometrics”, the science of measurement of the human body
– How workplace hygiene and ergonomics interact
– Tools for ergonomic assessment

Prerequisite

None

References in Other Frameworks

BCRSP: EPRF8, HRCM6, THSS3, THSS4; INSHPO: A5, B6, OHS BoK

Understand and Remember

– Relevant legislation, regulations, guidelines and standards that pertain to workplace ergonomics
– How the human body moves
(functional anatomy)
– What movements place an individual at risk
– The interaction between workplace hygiene and ergonomics
– How to identify ergonomic hazards in a workplace
– Effective controls for ergonomic hazards in the workplace

Apply and Analyze

– Identify specific ergonomic safety hazards and risks in a workplace
– Identify opportunities for changes to workplace procedures or controls and make recommendations
– Communicate recommendations and their rationale to workers and managers
– Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new or changing ergonomic safety hazards and risks hazards and risks
– Provide training in safe operating procedures for ergonomic safety

Evaluate and Create

– Conduct a hazard and risk assessment
– Conduct a review of the ergonomic safety management processes in a workplace
– Identify areas of excellence
– Identify areas of (non)compliance
– Identify opportunities for improvement
– Conduct a training needs analysis
– Develop workplace training for safe operating procedures for ergonomic safety
– Develop safety resources for newly introduced ergonomic safety or previously unidentified hazards or risks
– Develop and maintain an ergonomic safety management program

No results found.

Related Units of Competency