Human Kinetics and Ergonomics Dept: Postgraduate certificate in Ergonomics

In 2012 the Department of Labour (DoL) hosted the Occupational Health and Safety Conference: Road to zero injuries and accidents at which the topic of Ergonomics was discussed. Since then the DoL has invested a significant amount of time and energy into getting ergonomics regulations promulgated within South Africa and giving the discipline the recognition that it deserves. Significant progress has been made and the Ergonomics Technical Committee has developed an excellent working document for the regulations. An important step in ensuring that the regulations can be successfully implemented is providing the DoL Occupational Health and Safety inspectorate with sufficient education in Ergonomics. Within this context the DoL has approached Rhodes University and more specifically the Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE) to develop such a course, the first iteration of which has been successfully completed. The HKE department is currently the sole provider of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Ergonomics in South Africa and are consequently perfectly situated to perform this role. Furthermore, the staff in the department are intrinsically involved in ergonomics both within South Africa and the international Ergonomics community. To ensure that the course provided is of the highest quality the HKE department has worked closely with the Professional Affairs Board (PAB) of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa (ESSA). The short course is consequently aligned with the PAB board charter in terms of the recognized levels of professionalism within Ergonomics.

Course Description:
This short course forms an introduction to the principles of ergonomics and to ergonomics risk assessment in a variety of situations, such as the construction industry, in the South African context. It provides a framework of knowledge covering the breadth and width of basic ergonomics risk assessment and will provide sufficient education for participants to register as a Certified Ergonomics Associate with the Professional Affairs Board of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa. As such participants who successfully complete this course will have the following capabilities:
“A Certified Ergonomics Associate (CEA) is an interventionist who applies a general breadth of knowledge to analysis and evaluation of currently operating work systems. The scope of practice of a CEA is limited to the use of commonly accepted tools and techniques for the analysis and enhancement of human performance in existing systems. A CEA may for example be responsible for the co-ordination of an Ergonomics Facilitation team within their own industry to create an awareness of Ergonomics, to identify problems, to implement basic solutions and to recognise when to consult a CPE”. (Professional Affairs Board Charter, 2014)
Course Structure:
The course is structured in such a manner as to comply with the guidelines outlined in the PAB charter for recognition as a CEA with the Ergonomics society. Participants will thus have to complete 360 hours of work across six modules of 60 hours each. These hours will be comprised of contact time with the various lecturers, self-directed learning and assignments. In order for the course to be recognized by both Rhodes University and the ergonomics society, it is necessary to examine the key competences of each module. The mark will be comprised of both the assignments conducted during each module and any tests written at the end of the modules. Furthermore the final module requires the participants to submit a comprehensive portfolio of work performed during the course indicating the capacity to perform ergonomics risk assessment. This portfolio can form the basis of the evidence needed to apply for certification with the PAB.