Ergonomics and Workplace Safety Training Course

Duration 10 days 19 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Health and Safety Officers, EHS Managers and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-OHS-054

Before you join: Participants should have basic familiarity with workplace safety responsibilities, hazard reporting and routine risk assessment.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Poor ergonomic design and weak safety controls create predictable losses: musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, manual-handling injuries, errors, absenteeism, damaged equipment and avoidable compensation costs. The problem is rarely solved by generic lifting advice or a single workstation adjustment. Safety practitioners need to identify how task demands, work pace, tools, layout, supervision and worker capability combine to create exposure, then select controls that remain effective during normal operations.

This course develops the practical skills required to assess ergonomic and workplace safety risks, prioritise corrective action and verify that controls work. Participants use task observation, worker consultation, body-posture assessment, manual-handling calculations, workstation measurement and risk matrices. They apply recognised methods including the NIOSH Lifting Equation, RULA, ISO 11226 and ISO 45001 concepts. The syllabus addresses office and display-screen work, industrial tasks, repetitive work, slips and falls, machine interaction, fatigue, incident investigation and contractor activities.

Teaching combines focused instructor briefings with realistic cases from warehouses, production lines, laboratories, call centres, construction projects and administrative offices. Participants analyse photographs, task data, layouts and incident records; discuss control options; and develop documents that can be adapted for their own sites. Each participant leaves with an ergonomic and workplace safety improvement plan containing a task assessment, prioritised controls, implementation actions, inspection measures and review indicators.

The course is suited to professionals who already support operational safety and need stronger capability in ergonomic risk assessment and control design. It is particularly relevant where manual handling, repetitive tasks, seated computer work, mobile equipment, production targets or changing work arrangements create recurring injury risk.

What you will be able to do

  • Conduct ergonomic task assessments using observation, measurement, worker consultation and risk ranking
  • Apply the NIOSH Lifting Equation to evaluate manual-handling lifting tasks
  • Score working postures using RULA and interpret corrective-action priorities
  • Design workstation adjustments for display-screen, seated and standing work
  • Select controls using the hierarchy of controls for ergonomic and safety hazards
  • Investigate musculoskeletal and workplace safety incidents using causal analysis methods
  • Develop inspection, monitoring and consultation arrangements for sustained risk control
  • Produce and present an ergonomic and workplace safety improvement plan

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Assess manual-handling and posture risks with recognised ergonomic methods
  • Write clearer corrective actions linked to observed exposure factors
  • Advise managers on workstation changes supported by measurable evidence
  • Investigate recurring discomfort and injury reports beyond immediate causes
  • Present a credible safety improvement case to operational decision-makers

For your organisation

  • Reduced exposure to avoidable musculoskeletal and manual-handling injuries
  • More consistent ergonomic assessments across sites, teams and task types
  • Better prioritisation of equipment, layout and workstation improvement spending
  • Earlier identification of fatigue, discomfort and unsafe work design
  • Stronger evidence for safety reviews, inspections and management-system audits

Course modules

19 modules over 10 days

Participants can explain how work-system design creates ergonomic and safety exposure.

  • Work system model: worker, task, tools, environment and organisation
  • Ergonomic hazard pathways linking exposure, fatigue, error and injury
  • Leading and lagging indicators for musculoskeletal and safety performance
  • ISO 45001 worker consultation and participation requirements for risk control
  • Human factors principles for designing tolerable work demands
  • Ethical duties, reasonable accommodation and early reporting routes

Participants can plan and document an ergonomic risk assessment from scope to review.

  • Assessment scope defined by task boundaries, worker groups and conditions
  • Task observation records capture posture, force, repetition and duration
  • Worker interviews identify discomfort, workarounds and variable task demands
  • Risk matrices distinguish likelihood, consequence, exposure and uncertainty
  • Baseline measurements establish current conditions before corrective action
  • Assessment reports separate observed facts from assumptions and recommendations

Participants can relate task exposure to common musculoskeletal injury mechanisms.

  • Muscle, tendon, joint and spinal loading during work tasks
  • Static posture effects on circulation, fatigue and tissue recovery
  • Forceful exertion and repetition as cumulative trauma contributors
  • Awkward reach zones increase shoulder, neck and back loading
  • Individual capacity, ageing and previous injury considered without blame
  • Early discomfort reports triaged before symptoms become lost-time cases

Participants can collect credible observation data for ergonomic risk decisions.

  • Observation sampling captures normal, peak and non-routine task conditions
  • Video and photographic records used with consent and privacy controls
  • Cycle-time studies identify repetition rates and recovery opportunities
  • Force estimates obtained from load weights, gauges and operator feedback
  • Reach distances measured from neutral posture and working height
  • Exposure duration calculated across shifts, rotations and overtime patterns

Participants can complete and interpret RULA assessments for upper-limb tasks.

  • RULA body regions: upper arm, lower arm and wrist
  • Neck, trunk and leg scores determined from observed posture
  • Muscle use and load scores added to posture ratings
  • RULA grand scores translated into action-level priorities
  • Photograph selection avoids distorted angles and unrepresentative positions
  • Assessment limitations addressed through repeated observation and worker input

Participants can assess lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling hazards systematically.

  • Manual-handling task breakdown identifies lift, carry, push and pull elements
  • Load characteristics include weight, stability, grip and centre of mass
  • Travel routes assessed for gradients, obstructions, turning and surface condition
  • Team handling planned around communication, synchronisation and shared visibility
  • Push-pull forces measured where equipment and task conditions permit
  • Handling aids matched to load geometry, frequency and available space

Participants can calculate the Recommended Weight Limit and Lifting Index.

  • NIOSH Lifting Equation inputs defined before collecting task measurements
  • Horizontal, vertical and travel distances measured at lift origin
  • Asymmetry angle captures trunk twisting during load transfer
  • Frequency multiplier selected from lift rate and task duration
  • Coupling quality assessed from handholds, gloves and load surfaces
  • Recommended Weight Limit and Lifting Index interpreted for action

Participants can assess and adjust display-screen workstations for safe use.

  • Screen height, distance and glare assessed against visual demands
  • Chair adjustments support pelvic position, lumbar contact and foot support
  • Keyboard and pointing-device placement reduces wrist deviation and reach
  • Document holders and dual screens positioned for task sequence
  • Sit-stand arrangements assessed for alternation, stability and cable management
  • Display-screen assessments document adjustments, user needs and follow-up dates

Participants can specify practical improvements for industrial workstations and tools.

  • Working heights matched to precision, force and visual requirements
  • Primary reach envelopes guide parts placement and material presentation
  • Jigs, fixtures and balancers reduce force, reach and repetition
  • Hand-tool selection considers grip span, trigger force and vibration
  • Workstation clearances accommodate body dimensions, access and protective equipment
  • Pilot changes tested with operators before permanent installation decisions

Participants can identify repetitive-work exposures and plan suitable recovery controls.

  • Repetition rates measured by cycles, actions and forceful exertions
  • Work-rest schedules account for intensity, recovery and production constraints
  • Task rotation evaluated for genuine variation rather than exposure transfer
  • Production targets reviewed against safe pace and quality requirements
  • Micro-break design addresses visual, postural and upper-limb recovery
  • Early reporting systems identify emerging discomfort patterns by task

Participants can assess environmental contributors to discomfort, fatigue and error.

  • Lighting levels matched to inspection, screen and precision-work demands
  • Glare sources controlled through layout, shielding and surface selection
  • Thermal comfort assessed using workload, clothing and air movement
  • Noise exposure affects communication, concentration and warning-signal detection
  • Whole-body vibration considered for vehicle and mobile-equipment operators
  • Indoor air concerns escalated through appropriate occupational hygiene routes

Participants can identify access hazards and specify effective preventive controls.

  • Walking-surface inspections identify contamination, damage and level changes
  • Slip resistance considered when selecting flooring, footwear and cleaning methods
  • Pedestrian routes separated from vehicle movements and stored materials
  • Stairways, ramps and handrails assessed for condition and visibility
  • Housekeeping standards assign ownership, frequency and escalation arrangements
  • Fall incidents analysed for access design, behaviour and supervisory factors

Participants can assess ergonomic and safety risks at machine-operated workstations.

  • Machine interface design reduces reach, mis-selection and operator confusion
  • Guarding arrangements reviewed alongside access, cleaning and jam-clearance tasks
  • Control locations support neutral posture, visibility and emergency response
  • Material flow mapping identifies crossings, congestion and manual transfers
  • Line balancing considers workload variation, quality checks and recovery time
  • Changeovers assessed for non-routine exposure and maintenance coordination

Participants can select controls that address exposure at its source.

  • Elimination removes unnecessary lifts, reaches and hazardous task steps
  • Substitution compares materials, packaging and tools against exposure criteria
  • Engineering controls redesign height, distance, force and material flow
  • Administrative controls define rotation, staffing, scheduling and safe procedures
  • Personal protective equipment assessed as supplementary rather than primary control
  • Control selection records residual risk, owners, deadlines and verification measures

Participants can involve workers and supervisors in sustained ergonomic risk control.

  • Worker consultation tests whether proposed controls fit real task conditions
  • Supervisor briefings translate risk controls into observable daily expectations
  • Competency checks distinguish attendance records from demonstrated safe performance
  • Safety conversations explore barriers without assigning individual blame
  • Near-miss reporting captures discomfort, unstable loads and layout concerns
  • Feedback loops communicate decisions, actions and unresolved issues clearly

Participants can investigate ergonomic and safety incidents to identify systemic causes.

  • Incident evidence preserved through records, photographs, interviews and task reconstruction
  • Timeline analysis separates immediate events from preceding work conditions
  • Five Whys testing avoids stopping at worker error explanations
  • Cause-and-effect diagrams examine people, equipment, methods and environment
  • Corrective actions linked to causes, accountable owners and due dates
  • Investigation findings converted into prevention messages and control reviews

Participants can build assurance arrangements for ergonomic and workplace safety controls.

  • Inspection checklists target critical ergonomic and workplace safety conditions
  • Sampling plans focus observations on high-risk tasks and changing conditions
  • Corrective-action registers track ownership, evidence, deadlines and closure quality
  • Leading indicators include assessments completed, hazards reported and controls verified
  • Trend charts compare discomfort reports, incidents and exposure patterns
  • Management reviews evaluate resource needs, priorities and overdue actions

Participants can manage ergonomic and safety risks introduced by changing work arrangements.

  • Contractor onboarding communicates site hazards, access rules and reporting routes
  • Temporary workstations assessed before occupancy, relocation or equipment changes
  • Remote-work assessments address screens, seating, lighting and work routines
  • Shift changes reviewed for fatigue, handovers and supervision coverage
  • Procurement specifications include ergonomic criteria for furniture, tools and equipment
  • Change-management reviews assess new risks before operational release

Participants can assemble, review and present a complete ergonomic and workplace safety improvement plan.

  • Priority task selected using incident data, exposure evidence and worker concerns
  • Assessment findings structured into hazards, causes, controls and residual risk
  • Improvement options compared by effectiveness, feasibility, cost and implementation time
  • Action plan assigns owners, milestones, resources and verification measures
  • Review panel tests evidence, assumptions and control sustainability
  • Final presentation communicates the business case and implementation requirements

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Ergonomic task assessment template
  2. RULA posture assessment worksheet
  3. NIOSH lifting calculation sheet
  4. Display-screen workstation checklist
  5. Corrective-action and verification register
  6. Ergonomic safety improvement plan

Who should attend

  • Health and Safety Officers — need defensible methods for assessing ergonomic and workplace hazards
  • EHS Managers — need consistent controls, assurance measures and improvement priorities
  • Operations Managers — need safer task design without losing production control
  • Facilities Managers — need to address office, layout, access and workstation risks
  • HR and Wellbeing Professionals — need effective early intervention and accommodation processes
  • Supervisors and Team Leaders — need to recognise unsafe work conditions and act promptly

Skills and tools covered

Ergonomic risk assessmentManual handling analysisWorkstation designSafety control selectionIncident causal analysisSafety improvement planning

Tools and standards

ISO 45001, ISO 11226, NIOSH Lifting Equation, RULA

How the course runs

Training methodology

The instructor introduces each method through short briefings, worked examples and sector-specific cases. Participants examine task photographs, layouts, incident records, measurement data and worker reports to identify exposure factors and select controls. Small-group exercises apply RULA, lifting calculations, risk matrices and causal analysis to office, industrial and service-work scenarios. Simulations cover task observation, worker consultation and corrective-action discussions. Individual application planning links course methods to participants’ own roles, sites and priority tasks.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have basic familiarity with workplace safety responsibilities, hazard reporting and routine risk assessment. Experience in operations, facilities, HR, maintenance, supervision or health and safety is useful because the course uses realistic work tasks and incident scenarios. Participants should be comfortable reading simple measurements, forms and process diagrams. No engineering qualification, clinical ergonomics background, occupational hygiene certification or prior experience with RULA, ISO standards or lifting calculations is required. The course explains each assessment method before participants apply it.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

Participants need basic familiarity with workplace safety responsibilities and routine risk assessment. No engineering, clinical ergonomics or occupational hygiene qualification is required; the course teaches the assessment methods used.

Bring examples of a task, workstation, incident trend or safety concern from your workplace if organisational policy permits. A laptop is useful for working with templates, although course materials and calculation sheets are provided.

The course suits health and safety staff, EHS managers, supervisors, operations leaders, facilities staff and HR professionals. It is designed for people who influence work design, task controls, investigations or corrective actions.

General safety courses usually address broad legal duties, hazards and emergency arrangements. This course concentrates on the relationship between people, tasks, tools, layout and work demands, using ergonomic assessment methods and control design.

Participants can use the task assessment template, RULA worksheet, lifting calculation sheet and control register immediately. The final improvement plan is structured around a priority task or work area that can be adapted for workplace use.

Training runs from 08:30 to 16:30 each day, with about 6.5 contact hours. The first week builds assessment capability through task observation, posture, lifting and workstation methods; the second week focuses on controls, investigation, assurance and the capstone plan.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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