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Many office environments lack a proactive ergonomics program and action plan for dealing with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The Ergonomics Center of North Carolina (Center) at North Carolina State University recognized the need for an effective method of ensuring that office workplaces are able to develop an ergonomics program to deal with current and potential MSDs in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. To best achieve this goal, the Center has developed the Office Ergonomics Accreditation Program (OEAP) to assist companies in taking ownership of their ergonomics program and ensuring that qualified individuals are performing the work.
The Office Ergonomics Accreditation Program is designed to assist office-oriented businesses in obtaining high quality, cost-effective ergonomics expertise in-house. In this two-level program, individuals obtain a working knowledge of office ergonomics issues and the evaluation techniques to effectively deal with risk and incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. At the first level of the program, Accredited Office Ergonomics Evaluator, individuals are taught the skills necessary to evaluate an individual workstation and make prioritized recommendations for corrective action. At the second level, Accredited Office Ergonomics Specialist, additional skills are developed to build and maintain a comprehensive office ergonomics program. Accredited individuals have obtained: high quality education, practical, hands-on training and application, and theoretical proficiency through examination.
Individuals who complete all requirements of the Accredited Office Ergonomics Evaluator (AOEE) receive credentials which signify that the individual has demonstrated the ability to perform the following:
- Evaluate an individual office workstation
- Adjust existing equipment to the user
- Recommend and/or purchase needed equipment
- Train the employee on the basics of workstation setup and proper adjustment of equipment
Individuals who complete all requirements of the Accredited Office Ergonomics Specialist (AOES) have demonstrated competency in the AOEE topics and additionally in the following topics:
- Knowledge to implement an effective ergonomics program which includes the mission and goals of the organization, handling process of MSD cases, and expectations and responsibilities of all employee levels
- Form and operate an ergonomics team
- Understand and evaluate manual materials handling in the office
The credentials provided by OEAP do NOT denote a qualification to diagnose an illness or injury, prescribe any level of treatment, or evaluate environments other than the office.
Level 1: Accredited Office Ergonomics Evaluator (AOEE)
Training (16 hours)
Classroom training will be held daily at the Center from 8AM to 5PM.
Curriculum:
- Introduction to Office Ergonomics
- Biology 101 and Anthropometrics
- Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
- Ergonomic Stressors
- Office Ergonomic Analysis
- Development of Solutions
- Equipment Selection and Evaluation
Examination (2 hours) – Examinations will assess an individual's understanding of the concepts learned during classroom and practical training. An individual must answer 75% of the exam questions correctly (according to established protocols) in order to pass. Examinations will be given online, and must be taken within one week of the AOEE training. In the event that an individual does not earn a score of 75% or greater, the individual will have the opportunity to take one retest. In the event the individual does not pass the second exam with a score of 75% or greater, all sections of the classroom and practical training must be repeated in order to pursue accreditation. Published training fees will apply.
Homework (6 hours) – Homework assignments will be sent to individuals via email, along with their mark on the examination. These assignments pertain to methodology learned in class. The homework must be submitted within a timeframe provided in each homework package (approximately 30 days). Upon submission of completed homework, the homework will be evaluated and graded. If less than 80% of the homework is answered correctly (according to established protocols), an individual may resubmit the homework once, within 14 days of notification.
Total AOEE hours = 24 hours
Training Fee: $1000
Renewal Process: In order to maintain accredited status, individuals must renew their accreditation each year. This will involve submission of appropriate documentation including a renewal form and refresher training certificates as needed. All individuals successfully completing the accreditation program will be required to stay current with changing elements in the field of ergonomics relating specifically to the office environment. Accredited individuals must complete specified hours of refresher training or continuing education over a two-year period in order to maintain their accreditation status. This may include the Center’s refresher training course offerings, or other Accreditation Program-approved activities or event; contact the Center to determine acceptability of training.
AOEE CEU Requirement - 7 hours every 2 years
AOEE Renewal Fee: $50
Level 2: Accredited Office Ergonomics Specialist (AOES)
Training (32 hours)
Classroom training will be held daily at the Center from 8AM to 5PM.
Curriculum:
- Introduction to Office Ergonomics
- Biology 101 and Anthropometrics
- Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
- Ergonomic Stressors
- Office Ergonomic Analysis
- Development of Solutions
- Equipment Selection and Evaluation
- Written Program Development
- Ergonomics Team Development
- Manual Materials Handling in the Office
- Facility Ergonomics
- Aging Workforce
Examinations (2 hours) – Examinations will assess an individual's understanding of the concepts learned during classroom and practical training. An individual must answer 75% of the exam questions correctly (according to established protocols) in order to pass. Examinations will be given online, and must be taken within one week of the AOES training. In the event that an individual does not earn a score of 75% or greater, the individual will have the opportunity to take one retest. Individuals who need to take a retest must return to the Center and take the test during a later workshop's testing period. In the event the individual does not pass the second exam with a score of 75% or greater, all sections of the classroom and practical training must be repeated in order to pursue accreditation. Published training fees will apply.
Homework (10 hours) – Homework problems will be sent to individuals via mail delivery along with their mark on the examination. These problems pertain to methodology learned in class. The homework must be submitted a timeframe provided in each homework package (approximately 30 days). Upon submission of completed homework, the homework will be evaluated and graded. If less than 80% of the homework is answered correctly (according to established protocols), an individual may resubmit the homework once, within 14 days of notification.
Total AOES hours = 44 hours
AOES Training Fee: $1800
Renewal Process: In order to maintain accredited status, individuals must renew their accreditation each year. This will involve submission of appropriate documentation including a renewal form and refresher training certificates as needed. All individuals successfully completing the accreditation program will be required to stay current with changing elements in the field of ergonomics relating specifically to the office environment. Accredited individuals must complete specified hours of refresher training or continuing education over a two-year period in order to maintain their accreditation status. This may include the Center’s refresher training course offerings, or other Accreditation Program-approved activities or event; contact the Center to determine acceptability of training.
AOES CEU Requirement - 14 hours every 2 years
Renewal Fee: $75
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