3 hour Lecture/Lab  (13 weeks), REMOTE practicum

This course is intended for students with an interest in occupational ergonomics.  It is also suitable for those considering kinesiology, health and safety, physical therapy, occupational therapy or chiropractic professions.  The emphasis on the course is to provide both practical skills and theoretical knowledge in application of ergonomics to address occupational injury prevention and rehabilitation.  Returning workers back to productive work is known to be an important part of healing.  Understanding risk factors for injury, assessment techniques to quantify risk and solution development and implementation techniques is critical in the rehabilitation process.  You will learn how to integrate ergonomics into other rehabilitation practices and develop skills which will assist you in a variety of careers related to rehabilitation.

LECTURE TOPICS

The following topics will be explored in class:

·         Roles of professionals in the return to work process

·         Interdisciplinary approach in return to work

·         Disabled persons, law and society

·         Regulation and legislation

·         Functional Capacity Evaluation

·         Short-term vs. long-term disability

·         Physical demands analysis

·         How to use best practices to select defensible assessment tools

·         Assessment of biomechanical, environmental and psychosocial factors

·         Familiarization with rehabilitation protocols, work hardening and work accommodation

·         How to support Return to Work Programs such as OR1 and OR 2

·         Case management

·         The elements of effective occupational health & safety and employee wellness programs

This course will be administered in a remote, blended, on-line format on Canvas.  Students are required to attend the synchronous sessions on Mondays at 2:30 PM - 4:20PM. The midterm exam will be synchronous; date: TBA and the Final exam will be synchronous; date: TBA (remote invigilation using ZOOM will be used for exams).

• Material will be primarily delivered through pre-recorded mini lectures posted in Canvas.   Each module on Canvas will represent a week in the course and will include a few mini lectures, required readings/videos/podcasts, and study questions. 
• Synchronous lecture time 2:30 -4:20 on Mondays will be used for review, group activities and completion of labs.

Practicum

Due to COVID 19 restrictions an in-person practicum will not be possible this semester. In its place a virtual practicum will be assigned.  This will comprise of an online mini-project working with certified ergonomists or rehabilitation specialists. They will begin week 3. Your work in the practicum comprises 20% of your mark.  A criminal records check is required.  Visit http://students.sfu.ca/criminalrecords.html for more information

CASE STUDIES

Case studies will be presented at two different points in the course.  You will be asked to reflect on the case and answer specific questions relevant to the situation presented.

LABS

Labs will be held during class time.  Several different assessment techniques will be presented in the labs.  You will have an opportunity to practice techniques online.  You will hand in lab reports addressing specific questions and techniques taught in the labs.

EXAMINATIONS

The midterm and final exams will consist of questions requiring short answers (1-2 paragraphs) and longer answers (1 page).  Course notes information and designated text and Web readings are examinable.   The format of the exams will be determined in the first weeks of the semester.

LATE SUBMISSION

In fairness to all students, extensions will not be given except for serious medical extenuating circumstances (completion of the Health Care Provider Statement is required within 4 days of the due date). The late penalty will be 10 per cent per day. Any assignment that is more than 8 days late will not be marked and will receive a mark of zero.

MISSED EXAMINATION

A missed exam can only be rewritten if medical evidence of inability to write the exam is presented within 4 days of the scheduled exam. Contact the Dept of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology (778-782-3573) if you have missed or are unable to attend a scheduled midterm or final exam. You must also download and complete a Health Care Provider Statement from the SFU web site and hand it in to the course instructor.