Course Outline

Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics (RC-387/587)
Risk Control Center, University of Wisconsin-Stout

FALL 2008

Course

RC-387/587; HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING / ERGONOMICS

Meeting Time

Monday, 7 pm - 10 pm, Room 106, Jarvis Hall 

Instructor

Dr. Brian J. Finder, CIH
Room 125, Science Wing
Telephone: (715) 232-1422
E-MAIL: finderb@uwstout.edu
Availability: I'm usually around for personal visits, but due to my spastic schedule,  please take the time to make a formal appointment.

Print Resources

• Kodak's Ergonomic Design for People at Work by Chengalur, Rodgers and Bernard, 2004

• Cumulative Trauma Disorders; A manual for musculoskeletal diseases of the upper limbs by Verne Putz-Anderson, 1994

• Many materials will be distributed at the beginning the class, so get yourself a three-ring binder to hold it all.

Course Purpose

This course will provide students with practical workplace design/redesign principles which are directed at improving worker well-being and organizational profitability.  Emphasis will be placed on incorporating human capability information into the design of the work environment.

Expected Student Competencies

         Unit One

• Identify the relationship between ergonomic goals and various process improvement approaches

• Utilize human physiology-based information to formulate ergonomic design strategies

• Relate how poor workplace design contributes to the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders

• Apply various benchmarking techniques to quantify the presence of ergonomic problems

• Utilize various qualitative methods to analyze workstation design/ergonomic stressors.

• Utilize various quantitative methods to analyze workstation design/ergonomic stressors.
  
  Unit Two
  
  

• Utilize anthropometric data for the purpose of effectively designing workstations

• Utilize various ergonomic program management/implementation strategies 

• Apply proven workplace engineering and administrative techniques to help minimize the occurrence of recognized ergonomic hazards.

• Construct an ergonomic problem that is amenable to ergonomic analysis.

• Apply design strategies, principles, and techniques to an identified ergonomic problem. 

• Write and present an assessment report on an ergonomic analysis project.

Evaluation

• Three (3) ergonomic-related article abstracts (approx. 5% each).  Students will be required to find three separate articles directly related to ergonomics and write an abstract of each article using the format found on the last page of the course syllabus. Abstracts must be typed and submitted by the conclusion of class on the following due dates: 9/15, 9/22 and 9/29.

• Two (2) written examinations (approx. 65%). There will be two formal examinations spread throughout the semester which consist of short answer, essay, and problem-based questions.

• One RULA ergonomic risk assessment assignment (approx. 5%).  Using the RULA assessment methodology, each student will assess and be prepared to present an actual work-related situation involving primarily upper-body ergonomic stressors.

• One REBA ergonomic risk assessment assignment (approx. 5%).  Using the REBA assessment methodology, each student will assess and be prepared to present an actual work-related situation involving full-body ergonomic stressors.

• One Brief ergonomic risk assessment assignment (approx. 5%).  Using the Brief assessment methodology, each student will assess and be prepared to present an actual work-related situation involving primarily upper-body ergonomic stressors.

• One (1) Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation assignment (approx. 5%).  Using the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation, each student will assess and be prepared to present and actual work-related situation involving back-oriented stressors.   

Additional Graduate Student Assignment

All graduate students will complete an additional assignment where they (in teams of no more than two individuals) will assess an ergonomic-based problem at a business/manufacturing firm of their choice. Each team of graduate students must provide a written proposal of the ergonomic problem he/she will be assessing to the instructor on 11/3/08.  The minimum components of this proposal must be as follows:

• The indications of the process deficiency
• A detailed description of the process to be assessed
• The proposed assessment methodology(s) to be used.

The results of this assessment must be professionally written in a memo format to the organization’s contact person. Specific components of this audit must include the following: 

• The indications of the process deficiency
• A detailed description of the process assessed
• The assessment methodology(s) used.
• A presentation of the raw data collected
• Reasonable conclusions that can be drawn from the collected data 
• Realistic recommended engineering and administrative controls to minimize the potential for future ergonomic-based losses.  

The course instructor must receive a copy of the students' completed assessment on 12/8/08. Each team of graduate students will provide the class with a professionally-developed presentation of their ergonomic assessment on either 12/8/08 or 12/15/08.  At a minimum, this presentation must cover the above six required areas of the written assessment. 

Grading

Grades are based on the student's total points earned using the following breakdown:

The instructor will not permit extra credit work to be performed in order to raise a student's grade level. If a student's performance is adequate for established evaluation criteria, there should not be any need for extra credit. Students who must miss a class on a day of a quiz, test, or oral report should arrange a substitute time with the instructor. Unexcused absences on test days or special activity days may result in no recorded grade for the test of graded activity.

Instructor's Teaching Philosophy

The instructor's philosophy towards teaching adults is that a two-way street exists in the classroom for sharing factual information, experiences, and perceptions.  Following are what the students can expect from the instructor:

• Present the course content in an orderly fashion

• Be prepared at each class 

• Present himself and conduct the class in a friendly and respectful manner

• Not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances during work/class times

• Begin and end class on time

• Speak clearly and give concise directions

• Provide the students with applicable and current information as well as real-life experiences 

• Listen to students and attempt to answer their questions thoroughly 

• Follow up on unanswered student questions by the next class period

• Grade students' assignments fairly and consistently

• Provide ample notification of tests/other assignments not specifically dated in the syllabus

• Grade and return tests and applicable assignments within one week of being submitted 

Following are the instructor's expectations of the students:

• Attend all scheduled class meetings unless previously excused

• Be in their chair and ready at the beginning of the class time

• Not be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances during work/class times

• Complete assigned readings and be prepared to discuss such material intelligently

• Complete required assignments on-time and in a quality manner

• Speak in class only when recognized/prompted by the instructor

• Be friendly and respectful to fellow students

• Contribute their own knowledge, expertise, and viewpoints in class

• Have Student Support (X-2995) contact the instructor if legitimate special needs exist

• Make up excused major exams within two days of the original test date

Internet References

• OSHA (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/resources.html)

• NIOSH (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/)

• Occupational Hazards (http://www.occupationalhazards.com/)

• Occupational Health & Safety (http://www.oshonline.com/)

• ErgoWeb (http://www.ergoweb.com/news/)

Required Abstract Format
============================================================================

Student Name & Section #

Magazine: (Title and Date of Magazine/Publication)

Article: (Title of Article and Author)

Summary of article in your own words (minimum 2/3  page, maximum of 1 1/2 space & 12 point)

Your analysis/synthesis of the article (minimum 1/4 page, maximum 1 1/2 space & 12 point)