UCLA Ergonomics Advocate Program

Today’s office worker is constantly responding to increasing work demands and technology changes. Keeping employees safe in this environment is a challenge, especially in times of shrinking resources. 

The UCLA Office Ergonomics Evaluator (Ergo Advocate) program trains designated department representatives to conduct office ergonomic workstation evaluations. After completion of the program, the Ergo Advocate will be able to recognize computer related problems, adjust computer workstations, and provide workers with safe working strategies.

The road map to becoming an Ergo Advocate consists of 4 phases. The first phase includes completion of BruinErgo UCLA’s online ergonomics training, having the Ergo Advocates own workstation evaluated by a campus ergonomist, participation in a 90 minute seminar reviewing ergonomic risk factors and basic ergonomic concepts, and to round it out, a visit to the EH&S ergonomics lab.

Other phases involve shadowing of a campus ergonomist, shadowing of the Ergo Advocate by a campus ergonomist, as well as various other trainings and learning opportunities. At the completion of the training, participants will know how to evaluate computer workstations and make adjustments to improve worker safety and comfort.

Special expertise in health and safety is not needed to become an Ergo Advocate. Access to a variety of resources and tools will be available to aid in assessment of co-workers workstations and to provide effective ergonomic interventions.

A department with a trained Ergo Advocate will be eligible for increased levels of cost sharing over those departments without an Ergo Advocate. Departments without an Ergo Advocate are only eligible for 50% cost sharing and are capped at $650 and $1350 per individual. Departments with an Ergo Advocate are eligible for 75% cost sharing for chairs and keyboard trays (50% for other equipment) and $850 and $1600 per individual.

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