Ergonomics

3 credits

This course will introduce students to the field of occupational biomechanics/ergonomics. It will examine how biomechanical principles can be used to study work-related activities to reduce musculoskeletal injury in the workplace. Various methods to assess work-related tasks such as sitting and lifting will be presented. Other topics will include using an integrated approach to the analysis of physical work capacity, principles for redesigning tasks to reduce the risk of injury (e.g., workspace layout), etiology of low back and upper limb repetitive stress disorders and pre-employment screening and legislative guidelines.