SACRAMENTO/SAN FRANCISCO -- State Compensation Insurance Fund policyholders can learn how to use ergonomics to reduce workplace injuries in a multi-dimensional seminar and workshop at State Fund’s Sacramento District Office on June 14. The program is designed to illustrate how employers can recognize the risk factors that lead to injury and how to develop solutions and programs to prevent injuries. A separate interactive workshop will focus on the ergonomic challenges relating to the office environment.

Attendees will learn how to identify the problems leading to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), gain ideas on making improvements and applying them, and receive information and resources that can be used to train employees.

Featured speakers at the seminar will be Helen Chandler and Kristy Schultz, who are both Certified Industrial Ergonomists (CIE) and State Fund Ergonomics Consultants.

“When used correctly, ergonomic intervention allows employers to create a safer workplace,” said Chandler. “Our aim is to show how ergonomics can reduce the risk of office work injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.”

The seminar will be conducted in two sections. The first portion, entitled the “Core Program,” covers general principles of ergonomics and is appropriate for employers of all industries. Topics include:

• Understanding the basic principles of ergonomics
• Identifying the risk factors that lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• Discovering simple solutions to ergonomics problems
• Developing ergonomics programs for individual companies

The second section of the program focuses on the ergonomic challenges relating to the office settings. Topics covered at the workshop include:

• Reducing ergonomic risk factors in the office
• Implementing effective changes
• Increasing employee satisfaction and productivity
• Examining the pros/cons of a variety of office ergonomic equipment

Due to high demand for the seminar and workshop, State Fund will provide both morning and afternoon sessions. The schedule will be as follows:

Morning Session*:

9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. (Core Program)
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Interactive Workshop)
 
Afternoon Session:

1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. (Core Program)
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Interactive Workshop)

The seminars will be held at State Fund’s Sacramento District Office, 2275 Gateway Oaks Drive. Registration and a complimentary continental breakfast for the morning sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. Registration and complimentary refreshments for the afternoon sessions begin at 12:45 p.m. Free parking is available. 

The Sacramento seminar is part of a series of educational programs State Compensation Insurance Fund is holding throughout the state in order to help employers create safe workplaces. State Fund has the largest safety and health services program among California workers’ compensation insurance carriers.

* Due to popular demand the morning session of the workshop is FULL.

Register now for this or other available seminars.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Established by the California Legislature in 1914, San Francisco-based State Compensation Insurance Fund is a self-supporting, nonprofit, fairly competitive public enterprise that provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage at cost to California employers.