Employee training complements efforts to address workplace safety and health problems, including those focused on ergonomic hazards and related concerns. As presented in the main text (Step 3), ergonomics training may take different forms for various categories of employees. It can range from awareness training for all employees, especially those in suspected problem jobs, to more specialized, intensive training for those expected to undertake job analyses and problem-solving work. The ergonomics primers and manuals listed at the end of this document (see Tray 10) provide material for use in this training. Information on videotapes, publications, databases, and other resources that can be helpful in developing a training plan are also available from NIOSH (call 1–800–35–NIOSH or 1–800–356–4674).

Training Elements

The effectiveness of training greatly depends on the way it is designed and delivered to the target audience. A 1988 OSHA publication (Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Publication No. 2254) offers a model or set of steps to follow in these efforts. The steps are as follows:

1. Determine if training is needed. If the evidence gathered from checking health records and results of the job analysis indicates a need to control ergonomic risk factors, then employees must be provided with the training necessary for them to gain the knowledge to implement control measures.

2. Identify training needs. As already mentioned, different categories of employees will require different kinds of ergonomics instruction.

3. Identify goals and objectives. The important point here is that the objectives of training must be defined in clear, directly observable, action-oriented terms.

4. Develop learning activities. Whatever the mode of training—live lectures, demonstrations, interactive-video programs, use of varied instructional aids—learning activities should be developed that will help employees demonstrate that they have acquired the desired knowledge or skill.

5. Conduct training. Training should take into account the language and educational level of the employees involved. Trainees should be encouraged to ask questions that address their particular job concerns, and hands-on learning opportunities should be encouraged.

6. Evaluate training effectiveness. A common tool for training evaluations is the use of questions about whether they found the instruction interesting and useful to their jobs and if they would recommend it to others. More important, however, are measures of the knowledge gained or improvements in skills, as may be specified in the course objectives. Knowledge quizzes, performance tests, and behavioral observations can be used for this purpose. One exercise recommended here is for the class to propose improvements in workplace conditions on the basis of information learned in class for presentation to management for their review. This relates to another level of evaluation which is whether the training produces some overall change at the workplace. The latter measure is complicated by the fact that such results require time before they are apparent, and training may be one of several factors responsible for such results.

7. Improving the program. If the evaluations indicate that the objectives of the training were not achieved, a review of the elements of the training plan would be in order and revisions should be made to correct shortcomings.

For a discussion of ergonomics training issues, see the following reference:

Kuorinka I, Forcier L, eds. [1995]. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs): a reference book for prevention. Chapter 8. WMSD-related training. Taylor and Francis (1900 Frost Road, Suite 101, Bristol, PA 19007).

Although the above-mentioned steps can help employers develop ergonomics training activities without having to hire outside help, much depends on the existing capabilities of the staff. If in-house expertise in ergonomics is limited, start-up activities could necessitate the use of consultants or outside special training for those employees who would ultimately assume responsibility for ergonomic activities within the workplace. Continuing education courses at NIOSH Educational Resource Centers, located throughout the United States, can furnish this instruction. Their addresses are listed in Tray 3–A. Each year NIOSH publishes schedules for ergonomics courses and other offerings from these Centers. Copies can be obtained free of charge by calling 1–800–35–NIOSH (1–800–356–4674). NIOSH Educational Resource Centers, according to their charter, are expected to offer outreach services in addressing occupational safety and health problems in their respective regions. Contacting them could be a source for gaining help on ergonomic matters. A list of university locations where NIOSH is supporting ergonomics training projects is located in Tray 3–B. These too may be sources for obtaining assistance. In addition, regional offices of OSHA offer free consultation on ergonomic problems as do State agencies concerned with occupational safety and health issues.

Tray 3–A. NIOSH Educational Resource Centers for Continuing Education Courses (1997 listing)

Deep South Center for Occupational Safety and Health University of Alabama School of Public Health MJH117 Birmingham, Alabama 35294–2010 Phone: 205–934–7178; Fax: 205–975–7179

Southern California Educational Resource Center Institute of Safety and Systems Management 927 West 35th Place, Room 102 Los Angeles, California 90089–0021 Phone: 213–740–3995; Fax: 213–740–8789

Johns Hopkins Educational Resource Center School of Hygiene and Public Health 615 Wolfe Street, Room 6001 Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Phone: 410–955–0423; Fax: 410–614–4986

Michigan Educational Resource Center Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering University of Michigan 1205 Beal, IOE Building Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109–2117 Phone: 313–936–0148; Fax: 313–764–3451

New York/New Jersey Educational Resource Center EOHSI Centers for Education and Training 45 Knightsbridge Road, Brookwood II Piscataway, New Jersey 08854–3923 Phone: 908–235–5062; Fax: 908–235–5133

University of Cincinnati Educational Resource Center P.O. Box 670056 Cincinnati, Ohio 45267–0056 Phone: 513–558–1730; Fax: 513–558–1756

Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational Safety and Health Building 512—University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Phone: 801–581–4055; Fax: 801–585–5275

Northern California Center for Occupational Safety and Environmental Health 1310 South 46th Street, Building 102 Richmond, California 94804 Phone: 510–231–5645; Fax: 510–231–5648

Great Lakes Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety School of Public Health 2121 Taylor Street, Room 216A Chicago, Illinois 60612–7260 Phone: 312–996–6904; Fax: 312–413–7369

Harvard Educational Resource Center Harvard School of Public Health Office of Continuing Education 677 Huntington Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Phone: 617–432–1171; Fax: 617–432–1969

Minnesota Educational Resource Center Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety 640 Jackson Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Phone: 612–221–3992; Fax: 612–292–4773

North Carolina Educational Resource Center 109 Connor Drive, Suite 1101 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Phone: 919–962–2101; Fax: 919–966–7579

Southwest Center for Occupational Safety and Health P.O. Box 20186, RAS W1026 Houston, Texas 77225–0186 Phone: 713–500–9463; Fax: 713–500–9442

Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Department of Environmental Health University of Washington 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100 Seattle, Washington 98105–6099 Phone: 206–543–1069; Fax: 206–685–3872

Tray 3–B. NIOSH Ergonomic Training Project Grant Locations (1997 listing)

University of Massachusetts—Lowell Department of Work Environment One University Avenue Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Phone: 508–934–3272; Fax: 508–934–3050

University of Miami Department of Industrial Engineering 1251 Memorial Drive Coral Gables, Florida 33146 Phone: 305–284–4154; Fax: 305–284–5441

Texas A & M University Nuclear Engineering Department College Station, Texas 77843–3133 Phone: 409–845–5574; Fax: 409–845–6443

Texas Tech University Department of Industrial Engineering Mail Stop 3061 Lubbock, Texas 79409–3061 Phone: 806–742–3543; Fax: 806–742–3411

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering 302 Whittermore Hall Blacksburg, Virginia 24061–0118 Phone: 540–231–6656; Fax: 540–231–3322

West Virginia University Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering 727 Engineering Sciences Building P.O. Box 6107 Morgantown, West Virginia 26506–6107 Phone: 304–293–3693, Ext. 707; Fax: 304–293–5024

THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1997