Additional Ergonomic Resources


Ergonomic Procedures

Colorado State University has implemented an ergonomics program in order to decrease work related injuries experienced by its employees as well as to improve the overall health and safety of all faculty and staff members by reducing and/or eliminating risk factors for injury. This is done by identifying specific risk factors and their cause through analysis and evaluation of specific work tasks and workstation setups.

CSU's Ergonomics Procedure (PDF)

Ergonomics Enforcement

No formal state or federal requirements are currently in place which require ergonomics to be incorporated into the workplace, however, employers have a responsibility to keep employees safe and free from recognized hazards. Additional information regarding OSHA’s General Duty Clause and the enforcement of ergonomics is as follows:

  • An employer has an obligation under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) to keep the workplace free from recognized serious hazards. This includes hazards related to ergonomics.
  • OSHA can cite for ergonomic hazards under the General Duty Clause and encourages employers to implement effective programs or other measures to reduce ergonomic hazards and associated musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The Risk Management and Insurance Ergonomics Program is committed to helping all university departments and their employees identify ergonomic hazards and minimize the risk for injury.

More Handouts, Resources, and Information

Ergonomics Design

Ergonomics should play a major part of any workplace design, equipment and/or tool design and purchase, space layout, etc. Regardless of the review and assessment of current or future workplaces, workstations, environmental factors (i.e. lighting), equipment or tools, the human factors element should be considered to ensure a mismatch between tools, equipment, workstations and the human who uses them does not create inefficiencies, waste or injury.

With ergonomics design review, an ergonomics specialist will work with the department to evaluate and assess the work environment, tasks, equipment and/or tools and identify as best as possible where ergonomic issues may be present and make suggestions to help minimize injury risk exposure, avoid waste and decrease productivity, improve employee health in the future. The ergonomics specialist will provide and help ensure that ergonomic design guidelines and specifications are considered and implemented as part of the design and/or purchasing process to prevent the need for future modifications because ergonomics principles were not considered in the initial stages.

Implementing ergonomic principles in the design and/or purchase of tools, equipment, workstations, etc. is crucial and will help the department avoid time for re-work and redesign, save funding and keep the workforce at a lower risk for injury.