See also VDU/DSC Assessor Course

The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005, requires that all the hazards of the workplace be identified, risk assessed and then adequate precautions be introduced.

But what about your work stations and the risk of back ache, neck and shoulder pain, permanent back injury or repetitive strain injury?  What can you do to assess the risk?

The answer is to apply reputable methods to ergonomic risk assessment.

The course will address the ergonomic hazards of Display Screen Equipment, DSE, and other office work stations. 

Upon completion you will be able to…

·         Carry out in-house VDU/DSE Assessments;

·         Train staff to self-assess their own VDU/DSE work stations;

·         Give guidance on sound office ergonomics practice.

 WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The programme will be of interest to Safety Officers (‘competent persons’), HR specialists, Safety Representatives and those with an interest in ergonomics training.

PROGRAMME

The course will include…

Introduction to Health & Safety

• Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005 & Regulations & COPs
• Legal requirements of VDU workplaces
• The Employer’s responsibilities
• The Employee’s responsibilities
• The Safety Statement
• Risk Assessments & Office Ergonomics

VDU Work Station Ergonomics – Good Practice

• The general principals of designing a safe VDU work station in an office environment.

• A review of the ergonomic hazards identified in your organisation’s Risk Assessment and any precautions and other measures to avoid or reduce the risk

Ergonomics Risk Analysis

• Ergonomic hazards, the associated risks (medical conditions arising) and typical precautions and controls.

• RULA Method – your basic risk assessment tool - Background to the method and its validation, analysis of the work station & interpretation of results

• Quick Exposure Check, QEC - developed to facilitate undertake assessments of the exposure of workers to musculoskeletal risk factors

• ISO 9241-5:1998 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) -- Part 5: Workstation layout and postural requirements

• ISO 9241-6:1999 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) -- Part 6: Guidance on the work environment

Office Ergonomics Lesson Pl

• Introduction to Office Ergonomics

• Information on Health & Safety Law as it relates to ergonomics

• Information on the anatomy and biomechanics of the spine, arms, hands and of the muscles

• How injuries and damage, including eye strain and repetitive strain injury (RSI) take place from poor work station ergonomics.

• Guidance on fitness for the task and on exercises for flexibility and muscle toning

• Information on good ergonomic practice, including good posture. 

• The ergonomic factors of a workstation

• The hazards and risks surrounding a workstation

• What a workstation risk assessment involves

• General hazards that are commonplace in the office

• Postural and manual handling techniques which lower the risk of accident or injury

• Appropriate spectacles and footwear.

• Instruction on the maintenance of the workplace in a safe condition. ·         Co-operation of trained employees

 The Presentation Process

• Lesson Plan

• Presentation and handouts

• Presentation method

Assessing the Impact of the Training Programme

• Monitoring & Evaluation

• Short, medium & long-term

• Make adjustments

Applying the Trainers Skills

• Practical Workshop to develop, deliver and assess the effectiveness of an Office Ergonomics Training Course

• Individual Presentations

• Issue of Office Ergonomics Course Materials – Lesson Plan, Course Notes, handouts, booklets, etc.

THE de GRANDISON APPROACH

Training with us is different!  We use action learning and emphasise interaction in the group through a highly trained facilitator.  Role-play, discussion and practical exercises are used throughout.