Ergonomics Program Management

The Ergonomics Program Management course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals teaches safety and health professionals how to design, implement, and manage comprehensive ergonomics programmes that systematically reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). While the Ergonomic Hazards courses (General Industry and Construction) teach hazard identification and control at the individual task level, this course teaches the programme management competency: building the systematic programme that identifies ergonomic hazards across the organisation, prioritises interventions, implements controls, provides medical management for early symptoms, trains workers and supervisors, and evaluates programme effectiveness over time.

The curriculum covers programme justification (MSD cost analysis, workers' compensation data, OSHA General Duty Clause), management commitment and worker involvement, worksite analysis (risk factor identification, assessment tools — RULA, REBA, Strain Index, NIOSH Lifting Equation — applied across the organisation), hazard prevention and control (engineering controls, administrative controls, work practice controls — prioritised by risk assessment), medical management (early symptom reporting, early intervention, restricted duty, return-to-work), training (worker hazard recognition, supervisor response, ergonomic team competency), programme evaluation (MSD incidence, workers' compensation costs, intervention effectiveness, ROI), and the programme governance that sustains continuous improvement. All training is delivered 100% online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Build the business case for ergonomics: analysing MSD incidence, workers' compensation costs, lost time, productivity impact, and the ROI analysis that justifies programme investment to management.
• Conduct systematic worksite analysis: applying ergonomic assessment tools (RULA, REBA, Strain Index, NIOSH Lifting Equation) across the organisation, prioritising risks, and building the improvement plan.
• Design and implement ergonomic controls: engineering solutions (workstation redesign, mechanical aids, tool modification), administrative controls (rotation, rest breaks, task variety), and the control selection process that addresses the highest-risk tasks first.
• Manage the medical management component: early symptom reporting systems, early intervention before symptoms become injuries, restricted duty assignments, return-to-work protocols, and the health surveillance that catches MSDs at the reversible stage.
• Evaluate programme effectiveness: MSD incidence trending, workers' compensation cost reduction, intervention-specific effectiveness measurement, participation rates, and the ROI reporting that demonstrates programme value.

Core Topics

• Programme Justification: MSD costs, workers' comp data, OSHA GDC, ROI case
• Management Commitment: policy, resources, accountability, visibility
• Worker Involvement: symptom reporting, hazard identification, solution input
• Worksite Analysis: systematic assessment, tools (RULA/REBA/SI/NIOSH), prioritisation
• Hazard Prevention: engineering, administrative, work practice controls
• Medical Management: early reporting, early intervention, restricted duty, RTW
• Training: worker recognition, supervisor response, ergonomic team skills
• Programme Evaluation: MSD incidence, costs, intervention effectiveness, ROI
• Ergonomic Teams: formation, training, empowerment, project management
• Office Ergonomics Programme: workstation assessments, self-assessment tools
• Industrial Ergonomics Programme: manufacturing, warehousing, construction

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Safety managers building or improving ergonomics programmes
• Ergonomic programme administrators and coordinators
• Occupational health professionals managing MSD prevention
• HR managers managing workers' compensation for MSD claims
• Operations managers seeking MSD reduction in their areas
• Ergonomic team members and leaders

• Ergonomic Hazards in General Industry (task-level assessment)
• Ergonomic Hazards in Construction (construction-specific)
• Ergonomics Program Management — YOU ARE HERE (programme level)
• International Diploma in Industrial Safety Management