Overview
Employees silently suffer strain, discomfort, and injury in many workplaces due to poorly designed tasks, tools, or environments.
These issues—often overlooked—lead to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and costly non-compliance with occupational health and safety laws.
With the introduction of the Ergonomics Regulations (2019) under South Africa’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, the legal and operational stakes have never been higher.
This course empowers learners with the knowledge and tools to identify, assess, and control ergonomic risks in any work environment.
Grounded in the legal framework of the South African Ergonomics Regulations, the course walks you through the full ergonomics risk assessment process—from initiation and task evaluation to implementing controls and maintaining compliance records.
The short course was designed to align with the following:
- SAQA 244523: Conduct an ergonomic assessment and take appropriate action, NQF Level 5
- Ergonomics Regulation 6: Competency training for the person conducting an ergonomics risk assessment.
- ECSA Competency: Group C (Risk and Impact Mitigation), Outcome 7 (Meet all legal and regulatory requirements)
Importance of Managing Ergonomic Risks
Poorly managed ergonomic risks can lead to significant adverse health effects, including musculoskeletal disorders and reduced employee well-being, which can negatively impact productivity and morale.
Identifying and mitigating these risks ensures a safer work environment, enhancing overall system performance and employee satisfaction.
Employers who effectively manage ergonomic risks demonstrate a commitment to compliance, employee health, and operational excellence.
Learning Outcomes
1. Principles and Importance of Workplace Ergonomics: Understand the principles and importance of ergonomics in workplace design and operations. Discover how a proactive ergonomics program improves employee health, safety, and job satisfaction, fostering loyalty and productivity.
2. Compliance Framework: Learn the requirements of the 2019 Ergonomics Regulations and the duties of employers, employees, and other stakeholders, such as designers and suppliers.
3. Ergonomics Management System: Learn how to develop an ergonomics management system to ensure compliance with the OHS Act and Ergonomics Regulations.
4. Identify and assess exposure: Learn how to identify and quantify ergonomics exposure levels and ensure compliance with legal and other requirements.
5. Instruct, inform, and train exposed persons: Learn how to design an ergonomics training programme and ensure employees are informed.
6. Measure exposure: Gain skills in conducting ergonomic risk assessments, including hazard identification, analysis, and prioritization. Understand the role of medical surveillance in identifying and mitigating adverse health effects and the importance of maintaining compliance records.
7. Control Exposure: Explore practical strategies for eliminating or reducing ergonomic risks using the hierarchy of controls, from redesigning tasks to implementing personal protective equipment.
What You'll Learn
- Overview (2:15)
- Ergonomics Defintion and Terminology (6:05)
- Types of Ergonomics Injuries (8:30)
- Ergonomics Risk Factors (24:54)
- Systematic Observation (16:23)
- Anthropometric Studies (8:36)
- Biomechanical Analysis (9:54)
- Psychological and cognitive assessments (5:22)
- Injuries and Diseases Statistics (17:40)
- Assessment 1.1 - Quiz
Instant Access
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Your Facilitator
Nkululeko Thusini
At Team Palucraft, we love sharing information and skills that help engineers, technologists, technicians, and artisans become great technical people. Nkululeko (/Nku-lu-le-ko/) is here to share his extensive engineering, safety, and management experience.
He has a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, a Master's degree in engineering management, and numerous other professional certifications. He is also a registered South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) member.
He is a qualified facilitator with a unique skill of simplifying complex concepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend?
The course is suitable for all workers. It introduces ergonomics and reinforces the principles that must be employed when addressing ergonomic problems.
In particular, the course will benefit the following persons:
- Managers
- Health and Safety Officers
- Health and Safety Representatives
- Health and Safety Committee Members
- Union Representatives
- Persons involved with the day-to-day activities of health and safety, such as engineers, technicians, and artisans
How long is the course?
It will take 5 hours to complete the course content and 5 hours to complete the class assessments.
Admission Requirements
- Open enrollment
- Literacy at NQF Level 5
What is included in the course?
- 5 hours of on-demand videos
- Downloadable learner workbook
- Downloadable resources
- 3-months email support
- Certificate of Completion
Potential Job Outcomes
- SHE Representative
- SHE Committee member
- Ergonomics trainer
- Ergonomics risk assessment lead
Assessment
- Assessment 1.1 – Complete module 1 quiz assessment
- Assessment 2.1 – Complete module 2 quiz assessment
- Assessment 2.2 – Develop an ergonomics regulations compliance scoring sheet
- Assessment 3.1 - Conduct an ergonomics risk assessment
- Assessment 3.2 - Compile an ergonomics post-assessment report
What you will need?
- Computer, laptop, tablet, or cellphone with 5 to 10 Mbps internet
- Writing pad and pen
Accreditation
The course is not yet accredited.
Is the course NQF-rated?
The short courses offered by Palucraft result in a certificate of completion issued by Palucraft.
In line with the CHE (Council on Higher Education) regulations, short courses are not aligned to or allocated NQF levels or credits as they do not lead to complete qualifications.
The NQF system is essential from an articulation standpoint (moving from one qualification to another). The short courses are designed to offer practical, workplace-relevant skills, not as a vehicle for articulation into qualifications.
How to Enroll
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