Amp up your Ergonomics Awareness Training

Why should your staff be involved in Ergonomics Awareness Training? Front-line staff have a deep understanding of the work they do every day and are often an “untapped” resource in ergonomic intervention and change.  

People inherently look for ways to make their life easier and workers know the parts of their job that are physically demanding and what causes them discomfort and often have ideas on how their job could be improved.  As employers, our goal should be to give them the tools and opportunity to voice their ideas – and when we do, everyone benefits.

What Are The Benefits of Ergonomics Awareness Training?

To ensure workers understand the ergonomic risk present in their jobs, start with Ergonomics Awareness Training for frontline staff.  Ergonomics Awareness training should focus on educating and empowering workers to identify actions that may put them at an increased risk of an MSD injury, like repetitive forceful exertions and sustained awkward postures.   

Here are some general guidelines for what should be included in any Ergonomics Awareness training:

• Basic ergonomic injury information (What is an MSD?  How does it occur? What are the signs/symptoms?)
• Ergonomic hazards to look for at their workstations (force, awkward or static posture, repetition, vibration, etc.)
• Communication about proper reporting processes to generate continuous improvement ideas
• Education on safe work practices that are customized to your workplace

The Results of Ergonomics Awareness Training For Your Employees

When armed with this foundational ergonomic knowledge, workers can make safer and healthier movement choices at work and also participate in proactive injury prevention by welcoming ergonomic intervention suggestions that would improve their job/task.  In addition to helping keep workers safe and injury-free, this type of dialogue can help to cultivate a healthy workplace culture where employees feel valued and respected because they are contributing to positive changes in their job.

Work With The Experts For Your Ergonomic Awareness 

Capitalize on the experience of the experts in the job – your front-line workers – and give them the knowledge, tools, and pathways to be able to address ergonomic hazards in their own jobs with Ergonomics Awareness training.