Workstation Assessor Training

Introduction

It is often a challenge for large organisations to provide a cost effective means of ensuring worker comfort and safety at their workstation. To assist with this process Pinnacle can facilitate onsite training of selected workers to enable them to perform basic workstation assessments for their colleagues. Workstation Assessor Training brings prevention expertise 'in house' and facilitates sustainable change at a worker and organisational level. The program fosters the skills of key personnel to ensure that safety is an integral feature of everyone’s workday.


Aims

On completion of the Workstation Assessor Training it is expected that participants will be able to:
  • Describe the process of risk assessment, identification, control and review.

  • Recognise the connection between basic anatomy, biomechanics, ergonomics and workstation layout.

  • Demonstrate appropriate workstation setup and associated rationale.

  • Perform an assessment of a worker's workstation and implement appropriate controls.

  • Discuss and provide instruction to enable workers to implement methods of reducing potential risks.

  • Promote injury prevention stretches and explain the rationale for performing them.

  • Understand the ramifications of prolonged, repetitive or awkward techniques and how control strategies address these issues.

  • Be a ‘role model’ for their peers in relation to workstation ergonomics.

NB This training will not provide the participant with skills to assess symptoms of a worker and make appropriate workstation changes. This needs to be performed by an appropriate health professional.


Method

A Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist will facilitate the group training for up to 8 participants. The training will be focused on providing the participants with the skills necessary to be able to confidently perform an ergonomic workstation assessment and provide the rationale for recommendations.

There are 2 stages in the Workstation Assessor Training:
  • Workstation Assessor Training (6 hours);

  • Competency Assessment and Feedback.


Content

The content for the 6 hour course will include the following:

Risk Management
  • Review the 4 stage approach to risk management – hazard identification, risk assessment, control, monitor/review (practical activity)

  • Understanding hazards and risks

Adult Learning
  • Principles of adult learning

  • Overview of managing challenging behaviours

Basic Anatomy and Physiology
  • Brief overview of the spine

  • Movements and postures that place additional strain on the spine

  • Micro Trauma and Soft Tissue Creep

Injury Prevention Strategies
  • Overview of common musculoskeletal disorders

  • Injury prevention principles

  • Self management through posture and exercise

Workstation Assessments
  • Ergonomics – Correct workstation set-up and problem solving issues

  • Rationale of recommended workstation layout and addressing issues

  • Practical application to specific organisational workstation layout

Upon completion of Group Training, the participants will be required to perform a workstation assessment under the supervision or “observation” of a Pinnacle consultant. This serves to reinforce the key learnings from the group training. The participants will receive verbal and written feedback regarding their assessment and recommendations.