The strengths and limitations of lecture-based training in the acquisition of ergonomics knowledge and skill

A common approach to training designers of workplaces to incorporate ergonomic considerations in their designs is a two- to five-day course based primarily on lectures by experts. A quiz, designed to test the acquisition of ergonomics factual knowledge and skill in judging the degree of physical stress in various job configurations, was given to 147 participants before and after four days of a five-day short course based principally on lectures by university faculty and staff. The major findings were as follows. First, there was a considerable lack of factual knowledge and a high level of error in judging the level of stress prior to the training. Second, the training increased participants' factual knowledge but had little impact on their ability to accurately judge levels of stress in slides depicting real work situations. Third, participants' knowledge and skills before the training and their improvement as a result of the training were unrelated to prior education or training in ergonomics or experience with repetitive, manual work. These results are interpreted in light of prior research on design of effective health and safety training.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28698/1/0000518.pd