Office Ergonomics Training - Frequently Asked Questions

Please Note: Our OE course has been updated. To view the updated course FAQs click here.

Office Ergonomics Training FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

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What is Office Ergonomics (OE)?
Ergonomics, an applied science, can be defined as fitting the job to the worker. It involves designing workstations, work processes, equipment and tools to fit the employee. It is important for workers to know how to adjust their office workstations to suit their individual needs.

Do I need an Office Ergonomics Course?
Most provinces have amended their Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations to include Ergonomics. These province-specific legislations more clearly define an employer’s legal responsibilities when it comes to OE. For those provinces that have not yet developed specific OE regulations, they still fall under a general duty clause in the provincial regulations. Also Office Ergonomics regulations can be found in other federal regulations, such as the Canadian Labor Code.

The 'General Duty Clause' states: "Every employer shall ensure that the safety and health at work of every person employed by the employer is protected".

General training (such as this course) will cover the general legislation, how to identify, deal with, resolve and report OE, as well as strategies to prevent injuries that might result from improper ergonomics in the workplace.

Who is responsible for ensuring that my employees are adequately trained?
Regardless of the source of training or how it is provided to workers, the employer has the duty to ensure it is adequate to protect the health and safety of the workers.

It is up to the employer, in consultation with the Joint Health and Safety Committee or health and safety representative, if any, to determine the level and type of training provided, and to ensure it is adequate.

How often do I need Office Ergonomics Training?
General training should be given to every employee. Office Ergonomics should be repeated when there are significant changes to the policy or program or when circumstances indicate training should be repeated such as when policy or procedures are not being followed.

YOW Canada recommends that you complete Office Ergonomics training every two years. The certificate will have a "Next Recommended Training Date" of two years after your certification date.

Consult with your provincial government's labour legislation, your industry’s provincial safety association or Worker's Compensation Board for details on when re-certification is required.

How can we comply with the Regulations?
Design an Office Ergonomic Program that:

develops a prevention plan dealing with Musculoskeletal Injuries
provides employee education and training
identifies and assesses hazards
implements preventative measures
maintains and evaluates the program

What needs to be included in an Office Ergonomics training program?
Both general and site-specific training are required.

YOW’s Office Ergonomics Course is general training that covers the legislation, how to recognize Office Ergonomics and how to address it.

Practical site specific training may also be required to cover the particular workplace and the specific policy and procedures.

Does YOW Canada’s Office Ergonomics course meet all the provincial training requirements across Canada?
Yes, our Office Ergonomics training course was designed to meet all of the general training requirements across Canada.

How is compliance with the Regulations monitored?
Compliance activities are conducted by the provincial, territorial and federal agencies responsible for occupational health and safety (OHS). These OHS agencies conduct compliance programs and workplace inspections.

What does the "YOW" in YOW Canada stand for?
YOW Canada’s offices are located in Ottawa, Ontario and Y-O-W are the international call letters for the Ottawa Airport. Plus, we think it’s a catchy name that’s easy to remember.

Can I take YOW's Office Ergonomics course and then train my own workers in Office Ergonomics?
YOW Canada’s Office Ergonomics course is not intended or designed for trainers and we do not recommend that it be used to train a trainer. In order to reap the full benefits of the course, we recommend that each trainee complete an Office Ergonomics course themselves. This also ensures that each employee receives an Office Ergonomics certificate of completion.

How do I PURCHASE an Office Ergonomics course?
Purchases can be done online, by phone at 1-866-688-2845 or by fax. You may pre-purchase courses to be used at a later date. There are no expiry dates for pre-purchased courses.

What other courses does YOW Canada offer?
Please visit our product menu for all of our course offerings.

How does the online course work?
YOW Canada’s Office Ergonomics online course works in a 3 step process:

Step 1: Register - All trainees must be registered for the course. Registration can be done online, by phone at 1-866-688-2845 or by fax. Once registered, login and password information is emailed to the supervisor.

Step 2: Take the Course - Trainees can log in at any time to start their training and can log in and out as many times as necessary to complete their Office Ergonomics training. The course is about 1 hour in length. It includes audio, video, animation and interactive exercises. It makes training fun and educational!

Step 3: Print your Office Ergonomics Certificate of Completion - Once completed, wallet and wall-mount certificates are emailed to the supervisor. The certificates are printable and accompanied by a Performance Record that displays how the trainee performed throughout the course (scores for each chapter etc.).

How long does it take to complete the online course?
The average trainee can complete this Office Ergonomics online course in 1 hour. If you have a dial-up internet connection, it will take longer to download the course.

What will I receive when I have completed my training?
Once you complete the course, a pdf document will be available for you to download and print. This document is also emailed to the Account Supervisor. This document will include your Performance Record and certificate of completion. The certificate includes your name, your employer's name and the date you certified.

How will I receive my Office Ergonomics certificate of completion?
The certificate will be automatically available for printing once you complete the course. It will also be emailed to the Account Supervisor. If you are self-employed, the certificate is sent to your email address directly.

Can I take this course as a refresher?
Yes, this course was designed to suit the needs of both first time trainees and refresher training.

Can I log into the course more than once?
Yes, you can log in and out of the course as many times as necessary in order to complete your training. When you log back into the course, you will be brought back to the last page you visited. You have up to 1 year to complete your course.

I am the supervisor. How can I monitor my employee's progress?
As a supervisor, you have access to a Course Administration site where you can monitor and track each employee's progress. You can see quiz scores, view certificates, activate accounts and more. You can also re-register any employee's who's certificates have expired. You also receive a copy of all training certificates by email as soon as the employee has completed the course.

I have dial-up internet. Can I still take the course?
Yes. The course is available for dial-up users. Please be aware, however, that it may take more time to download. If you'd like to see a demo to test the speed, please click here to view a demo of this course.

Why should I choose online training versus classroom training?
Online training with YOW Canada is fast, easy and effective. Some of the benefits of online training include:

Available 24/7, on any computer with an internet connection.
Complete tracking capabilities through Course Administration to ensure employees have certified and to monitor their progress.
No need to remove multiple employees from their work to train simultaneously.
Employers can rest assured that each employee has received the same subject matter.
Save on traveling costs.
Certificates are emailed immediately following successful completion of the course.

YOW Canada’s online training is dynamic and includes audio, video, animation and interactive exercises. It makes training fun and educational!

What are the technical requirements for taking this Office Ergonomics online course?

	Windows 98 OS or newer / MAC OS 7 or newer
	Internet Explorer 5, Firefox (PC or MAC), Safari (MAC)
	256 MB RAM
	Pentium 500 MHZ processor
	800 x 600 dpi screen resolution
	56k internet connection or higher (high-speed recommended)
	Adobe Flash Player version 8.0 or higher

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