Ontario’s health and safety system is asking workplace representatives to complete an ergonomics survey designed to help identify musculoskeletal disorder prevention needs. 
 
Workers Health & Safety Centre helped draft the survey as a member of an ergonomics advisory committee which includes representatives from all the system partners and is chaired by the Ministry of Labour’s provincial ergonomist.
 
MSDs account for almost 40 per cent of approved lost-time injuries in Ontario. Many have long called for a comprehensive MSD prevention strategy in Ontario. The Health and Safety System Ergonomics Survey takes about five minutes to complete. The results are strictly confidential. The survey is available online until June 30.
 
The survey is part of an initial action plan developed by the ergonomics advisory committee. The WHSC was successful in ensuring the plan included review and revision of the Ontario’s MSD Prevention Guideline. The Guideline, developed by the system partners 10 years ago, sets out a prevention framework for workers and employers wanting to take action on MSD prevention. An initial review of the Guideline was to have occurred five years after its introduction.  
 
The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, will lead a project to revise Ontario's MSD Prevention Guideline and resource material. WHSC will be participating on the project’s advisory committee. The project aims to create a new document that gives clearer guidance to a range of workplaces—in different sectors and of different sizes—about the tools that can be used to identify and assess MSD risk factors.
 
The MSD Prevention Guideline and Prevention Toolbox are the basis of two popular WHSC training programs. All WHSC ergonomics programs focus on the knowledge and tools needed to help identify the working conditions and hazards responsible for musculoskeletal pain and disorders and offers essential insight into prevention solutions.
 
WHSC offers a range of MSD prevention resources and ergonomics training programs. Have questions or need more information?
 
Call:    1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak with a training services representative.
Visit:   www.whsc.on.ca
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca