Ergonomic Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Employees and faculty who work at a desk are required to complete office ergonomics training. Choose the appropriate course(s) for your workstation.
- Office Ergonomics Training (30 minutes) - For employees who use a computer in their daily work activities. Users will learn signs, symptoms, and risk factors of ergonomic injuries as well as strategies to minimize risk and improve overall comfort.
- Office Ergonomics Self Adjustment Tool (15 minutes) - An interactive step-by-step guide for employees to adjust their own workstation.
Live Webinars: Proper office workstation setup and micro-breaks are essential to help decrease the risk of discomfort and gradual onset injuries. Attend a live webinar while at your workstation and receive practical knowledge to set up your workstation and incorporate micro-breaks.
Industrial
Required for employees who complete manual labour tasks as part of their job (lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, and/or awkward positions). Users will learn signs, symptoms, and risk factors of ergonomic injuries as well as strategies to minimize risk and improve overall comfort.
Note: Industrial workers who also work in an office are required to use the Office Ergonomics Self Adjustment Tool.
Laboratory
Required for employees who work in a laboratory. Users will learn signs, symptoms, and risk factors of ergonomic injuries as well as strategies to minimize risk and improve overall comfort.
Note: Laboratory workers who also work in an office are required to use the Office Ergonomics Self Adjustment Tool.
Follow the Proactive Ergonomics Program - Step 3 to determine your ergonomic assistance needs.
Visit the Staff Wellness, Injury and Illness webpage for information.
Follow the Proactive Ergonomics Program - Step 3 to determine your ergonomic assistance needs.
Follow the Proactive Ergonomics Program - Step 3 to determine your ergonomic assistance needs. If you are referred to the external service provider for an assessment, follow Step 4 instructions.
Departments are responsible for assessment, furniture and equipment costs related to the employee’s permanent workstation. Department approval is required.
Consultation: The Staff Wellness, Ergonomic Program Advisor may complete a consultation to determine if a formal assessment is required. The Ergonomic Program Advisor collects information, such as photos/video, medical history, diagnosis, workstation concerns and the Office Ergonomic Self Adjustment report. Once the information is reviewed, the Ergonomic Program Advisor may:
- Refer the worker for a formal ergonomic assessment with the external service provider, EWI Works. Departments are responsible for the fees associated with the assessment and equipment/furniture recommendations for the permanent workspace. Department approval is required.
- Recommend changes to the workstation and/or work practices
- Recommend temporary loan equipment
- Recommend applicable equipment/furniture
- Request further information such as medical information, additional photos, and/or form completion
Assessment: A formal, in-person or virtual assessment (30 – 60 minutes) is completed. A full report is sent to the client and a summary report is provided to the leader, indicating recommended equipment/furniture and/or changes to the workstation and/or work practices.
The external service provider completes assessments for:
- Office workers - Stage 3 populations
- Office workers – Ergonomic Program Advisor referrals
- Individual industrial and laboratory workers - Ergonomic Program Advisor referrals
- Return to Work - musculoskeletal injuries related to the office workstation
The Ergonomic Program Advisor completes assessments for:
- Industrial and laboratory departments
- Individual industrial and laboratory workers
Staff and Faculty who require specific equipment or furniture for their workstation may be approved for a short-term loan through the Staff Wellness, Proactive Ergonomics Program. Contact Staff Wellness for eligibility.
The Proactive Ergonomic Program has some furniture and equipment available for the following:
- Short term loan: for staff and faculty who have a temporary disability
- Short term loan: for staff and faculty who have a permanent disability and are waiting for an equipment/furniture order to be processed.
- Equipment trial: for staff and faculty who have a permanent disability and require an equipment trial prior to determining the most applicable brand/type of equipment.
Note: an ergonomic consultation or assessment is required for loan approval.
Work From Home furniture and equipment are the worker’s responsibility. Check your Blue Cross Wellness Spending Account for applicable Work From Home products and supplies.
Base furniture consists of an appropriate desk, office task chair, external keyboard and mouse, and monitor. Refer to the Furniture and Equipment guides for information related to appropriate furniture and equipment.
Contact the Preferred Provider, Sales Representative regarding chair demos or to book an appointment to trial chairs in their showroom.
Refer to SCM’s Preferred Provider list for current contact information.
Contemporary Office Interiors: Aidan Wahlberg [email protected] 587-228-8990 (preferred pricing for UCalgary WFH Staff and Faculty)
RGO Products Inc: Mike Juristy [email protected] 403-816-2812
Heritage Business Interiors Inc: Kelly Clements [email protected] 403-259-7261
McCrum’s Office Furnishings: Whitney Bastedo [email protected] 403-212-3365
Contact Staff Wellness. The Ergonomic Program Advisor will review your case and may request further information to determine if a sit/stand is the best option for your situation. In some cases, individuals find more symptom relief from taking microbreaks to alternate their posture, change positions, walk and/or perform exercises, compared to standing stationary for 15 – 20 minutes. Standing does not provide a change in posture for your upper body, it can also increase low back and lower extremity symptoms if completed for too long or with poor posture. For more information on sit/stand stations refer to the Sit to Stand Workstations resource found in the Office Resources section.
Follow the Proactive Ergonomics Program - Step 3.
Coming soon: Ergonomics Training for Wellness Advocates and Leaders
Contact the Ergonomic Program Advisor for recommendations. Customized training sessions can be completed for groups of 10 or more. If your department has less than 10 employees and the assessments are for office workers, consider having them attend a webinar and/or complete the Office Ergonomics Self Adjustment Tool. If individual assessments are required, the external service provider provides a discounted rate for three or more assessments completed in the same day.
Refer to SCM’s Preferred Provider list for current contact information.
Office Chairs
Contemporary Office Interiors: Aidan Wahlberg [email protected] 587-228-8990
RGO Products Inc: Mike Juristy [email protected] 403-816-2812
Heritage Business Interiors Inc: Kelly Clements [email protected] 403-259-7261
McCrum’s Office Furnishings: Whitney Bastedo [email protected] 403-212-3365
Office Workstations
Heritage Business Interiors Inc: Kelly Clements [email protected] 403-259-7261
McCrum’s Office Furnishings: Whitney Bastedo [email protected] 403-212-3365
Equipment
ErgoCanada: https://www.ergocanada.com/ Email: [email protected] Tel: 866-335-3746
Grand and Toy: Kevin Jackson [email protected] 780-443-5061
Stools
Grand and Toy: Catherine Lomond catherinelomond@workspaceinteriors.ca | Tel: 780-930-6905 | Cell:780-616-7744