Ergonomics where the work happens.
The Ergonomics Systems Specialist (ESS) workshop is designed for industrial and field environments. Give your team practical tools to identify musculoskeletal hazards, assess demanding tasks, implement controls and build ergonomics into everyday safety practice.
Practical training for real work demands.
Ergonomics goes well beyond desks and chairs. On industrial sites and in the field, workers lift and handle materials, operate equipment, use tools and adapt to changing conditions. Your team needs people who can recognize those demands and act on them.
This 4.5-day workshop helps your team build or strengthen an ergonomics program within your existing safety system, with the goal of reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). It connects scientific principles to decisions made on the jobsite, in the plant and across field operations. Worried about the office workers? Don’t worry. We cover that too.
Training is tailored to your operations. Individual, partner and group exercises combine relevant case studies, discussion, quizzes, video analysis, problem solving and hands-on practice with provided tools.
The workshop is designed to support applicable provincial and federal requirements, guidelines and ergonomics-related CSA standards. Your organization remains responsible for confirming the requirements that apply to its operations.
What you’ll learn
The course follows the workSMART MSD Risk Reduction Process, using industrial, field and office examples from identifying hazards through evaluating results.
Build a sustainable business case
- Find gaps in your safety management system related to ergonomics and MSD prevention.
- Use a structured MSD reduction process and select appropriate assessment tools.
- Make a case for controls using costs, benefits and expected impact.
- Plan to share knowledge and keep the program moving.
See the whole picture
- Review injury data, incident reports, hazard assessments, physical demands analyses and other safety information.
- Gather worker input and identify hazards before injuries occur.
- Consider physical demands alongside work organization and psychosocial factors.
Assess tasks with confidence
- Work through each step of the workSMART MSD Risk Reduction Process.
- Use evidence-based task analysis methods to assess force, awkward or static posture, repetition and contact stress.
- Consider whole-body vibration, hand-arm vibration and environmental factors.
Choose and test practical solutions
- Prioritize action and find timely improvements without getting stuck in analysis.
- Use workSMART’s control hierarchy and a cost-benefit matrix to compare options.
- Test controls and evaluate whether they reduce risk.
Apply the tools across your workplace
- Manual material handling
- Driving and equipment operation
- Tools and equipment design
- Standing and seated tasks
- Workspace design
- Office tasks and furnishings, where relevant
- Measure immediate, intermediate and long-term effects.
- Identify barriers, build on results and retain what your team learns.
A certificate of completion for every participant.
Every participant receives a certificate of completion after attending the ESS workshop. There are no assignments, assessments or other post-course requirements.
Learn it. Apply it. Take it back to work.
Participants leave with practical tools and approaches to help identify hazards, reduce MSD risk and support ongoing improvement in their workplaces.
Continuing education
The ESS workshop has been recognized for continuing education by organizations including those below. Credit requirements and acceptance can change, so check with your association before relying on a specific credit amount.
- BCRSP
- AOHNA
- COHNA
- Alberta Kinesiology Association
- CAOT
- CRBOH
- BC Association of Kinesiologists
- Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada
- ABIH
Need documentation for a different professional body? Contact us to discuss what may be available.
What participants say
It was nice to work with a company that was able to provide us with exactly what we needed.
Excellent job of keeping the sessions interesting and entertaining, answering questions, making the group feel at ease, encouraging discussion.
First off, I wanted to thank you again for the ESS course and follow-up, it’s been one of the most valuable and usable courses I have taken.
Excerpts from participant feedback previously published by WorkSMART.
Bring field-focused ergonomics training to your team.
Tell us about your industrial or field operations and training goals. We’ll discuss how the ESS workshop can be tailored to your needs.