Ergonomics Where You Work

The Ergo Where You Work team can schedule and perform on-site and remote ergonomic evaluations to help prevent ergonomic related musculoskeletal-related injuries and improve employee health and wellness.

Follow these the steps to obtain an ergonomic assessment.

Step 1: Complete the Web-Based Tutorial

Complete the UC San Diego Campus Web-Based Office Ergonomics Training and Self-Assessment available online to all campus-funded employees. This online training module will provide valuable tips to assist with your general workstation set-up. See the Ergonomic Training section below for access information.

Step 2: Request an Ergonomic Assessment

If you need additional assistance after completing the web-based Ergonomic Self-Assessment and Training, email ehsergo@ucsd.edu regarding ergonomic-related inquiries or to request an assessment. Note: Taking the web-based tutorial does not automatically generate an assessment request.

Step 3: Schedule the Ergonomic Assessment

After receiving the request for ergonomic-related information or an ergonomic assessment, a campus ergonomic specialist will respond to assist you.

Web-Based Ergonomics Training

UC San Diego offers a web-based ergonomic self-assessment and training module for campus office/remote office employees.

UC San Diego’s Campus Ergonomic Web-Based Assessment and Training is a tutorial, providing an interactive overview of ergonomic risk factors and recommended changes that you can make to create a healthier work set-up. This e-course is available to campus-funded employees and is recommended for any employee who works at the computer for four or more hours per day.

Health Services employees: Contact the Health Services Ergonomic team, injuryprevention@health.ucsd.edu, for ergonomic training.

To access ergonomic web-based training and complete an ergonomic self-assessment:

1. Go to the Risk & Safety Solutions Computer Ergonomics Assessment.
2. Login with your campus Single Sign-On credentials.
3. Select Computer Ergonomics Self-Assessment on the right navigation menu.
4. Select Start Assessment and Continue to go through the training and the assessment.

Once logged in, available ergonomic training and assessments include:

• 1a. Web-Based Ergonomic Office Self-Assessment: This self-assessment helps to identify ergonomic risks, such as repetitive tasks, improper work area setup, and improper use of tools, which can contribute to ergonomic work-related injuries, including repetitive stress injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.
• 1b. Web-Based Ergonomic Office Training: These training modules help to identify various ergonomic best practices and workable ergonomic solutions for where you work.

Web-Based Ergonomic Back Safety Training

UC San Diego also offers a web-based ergonomic back safety Training module, Maintaining a Healthy Back, recommended for employees who lift, carry, or perform other activities that may place demands on the back.

Complete the Maintaining a Healthy Back e-Course on UC Learning Center.

Customized Ergonomics Training Where You Work

The Ergo Where You Work team offers customized ergonomics and back safety training programs:

• Customized On-site Ergonomic Training for Small Groups
• Department Ergonomic Training

Topics include office ergonomics, back safety, safe lifting, repetitive injuries prevention, ergonomic best practices, and more.

Training is designed for campus-funded departments in the form of tailgate, remote, or customized seminars.

• Courses are hands-on and  interactive.
• An ergonomic specialist can present on-site group training.
• Ergonomic topics include, office and administration, custodial, dining, laboratory, medical, trades, etc.
• Training focuses on specific ergonomic best practices and recommendations.
• Training is provided quarterly, biannually or on an as-needed basis. 

To request customized ergonomic training for small groups or departments, email your request to ehsergo@ucsd.edu and include:

• Type of ergonomic training desired
• Your department and vice chancellor area
• Department location
• Department contact name, phone number, and email address

The UC San Diego Ergo Team acts as a referral source to provide access and information about the most current and effective ergonomic product selection and procurement options to help reduce ergonomic-related injuries. Services include:

• Exploration of cutting-edge ergonomic equipment
• Answering ergonomic product-related questions
• Providing retrofit and customized options
• Offering on-site assessments

Recommended ergonomic office products include chairs, keyboards, mice and more. In addition to office ergonomics, ergonomic product recommendations are provided campus-wide for other areas including, custodial, dining, housing, landscaping, trades, medical/clinical, laboratories, and more.

Ergonomics Resource Fund for Where You Work

UC San Diego offers a partial reimbursement program to assist with the purchase of ergonomic equipment, including office and non-office items. The Ergonomics Resource Fund is designed for departments to utilize preventative ergonomic solutions and recommendations to help prevent potential musculoskeletal injuries.

How to Apply for Funding

1. Confirm eligibility. Funding is for individual campus-funded employees.
2. Complete the ergonomic web-based training and self-assessment. Each person applying for Ergonomics Resource Funding must complete the prerequisite ergonomic web-based training described in the Web-Based Ergonomics Training section above.
3. Complete the Ergonomics Resource Funds form. Complete all fields and include each product name and manufacturer price to avoid processing delays.
4. Receive pre-approval. EH&S Ergonomics will review the request and reply with a pre-approval notification.
5. Department purchases the product(s). If approved, the employee’s department can purchase the ergonomic item(s), using the specific product approval protocol and department-specific procedures. Note: EH&S does not purchase products directly.
6. Processing or partial reimbursement. The requesting department has three months from the EH&S pre-approval date to complete the cost transfer from the Ergonomics Resource Fund.
   1. After the order is received, the employee or employee’s department provides EH&S Ergonomics a copy of the invoice and packing slip.
   2. EH&S will review the order and approve the funding amount for the cost transfer by your department. Specific cost transfer details will be provided.

Ergonomics Resource Funding Amounts

• Funding minimum: A minimum total purchase of $100 is eligible for funding consideration.
• Funding allotment: Based on funding availability, up to 50% of the total purchase may be awarded with the maximum award amount of $300 per employee.
• Funding maximum:As the Ergonomics Where You Work program aims to provide ergonomic support and services to all campus-funded vice chancellor areas and departments, individual departments are allotted a maximum of $1,500 per fiscal year to help provide support for ergonomic product procurement.
• Funding availability: All Ergonomics Resource Funding depends on funding availability.

Questions?

If you have specific product questions before ordering an ergonomic product, contact ehsergo@ucsd.edu.

Tips

Ergonomic assessments and training highlight the importance of implementing ergonomic best practices. Add these vital elements to enhance your ergonomic health and well-being:

• Take micro rest breaks.
• Pace yourself.
• Ask for assistance when needed.
• Alternate positions
• Rotate tasks.
• Add movement to the day.