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Description

Workplace Ergonomics: Observing, Analysing and Transforming Work Situations

Looking at real work activity to understand what wears bodies down and what slows the job down day after day

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Complaints of pain, workstations rearranged with no effect and repeated absences often share the same origin: the furniture was dealt with without ever looking at the actual work activity. Site managers, HSE officers and employee representatives often lack a simple method for observing a workstation and building a well-founded improvement request.

Two days to acquire the core reflexes of ergonomics without becoming an ergonomist: observing a work situation, distinguishing the prescribed task from the real activity, identifying the drivers behind a constraint and proposing realistic transformations.

Learning objectives

  • Distinguish the prescribed task from the activity actually carried out
  • Conduct a workstation observation and report factual findings
  • Identify the technical
  • organisational and human drivers behind a constraint
  • Formulate prioritised improvement options discussed with the operators
  • Position the contribution of ergonomics among other prevention levers

What makes this programme different

A filmed or photographed observation of a real workstation is analysed collectively in the classroom
Each participant leaves with an observation grid completed on a situation from their own organisation
Improvement options are assessed for feasibility before being presented

Programme

1Work as it is actually performed

Moving from the theoretical workstation to observed activity

  • The gap between the prescribed task and real activity
  • Adjustments and strategies developed by operators
  • Concepts of physical
  • postural and mental workload
  • The place of ergonomics among prevention approaches

2Observing a work situation

Gathering facts rather than impressions

  • Preparing the observation and informing the people concerned
  • Techniques for time recording and photo or video capture
  • Feedback interview with the operator
  • Reporting observations without judgement

3Analysing the drivers

Tracing symptoms back to causes

  • Drivers linked to space
  • equipment and tools
  • Organisational drivers: working hours
  • work rates and multi-skilling
  • Individual factors and career history
  • Building a shared diagnosis

4Designing and monitoring transformations

Improving without creating new constraints

  • Formulating options and simulating them with the operators
  • Prioritising according to expected effect and feasibility
  • Making the case for the request to senior management
  • Monitoring indicators after implementation

Who is it for

Site managers · HSE officers · members of health and safety committees · safety coordinators · front-line managers and technical services teams involved in setting up or modifying workstations.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge required

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.