Ergonomics

The prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can only occur if you are aware of the potential hazards in your workplace.

During an MSD Hazard Identification Summary, a WSPS ergonomist will inspect your workplace and provide a report of identified MSD hazards; valuable information you can use to plan prevention activities.

Hazard identification is the first step to mitigating MSD risks. Additional assessments may be needed to ensure hazards are addressed.

An Ergonomics Risk Assessment uses a structured approach to identify, examine, and rank hazards that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among your workers. These hazards are typically due to an incompatibility between the setup of their workplace and their physical and cognitive abilities. Knowledge obtained by a risk assessment will assist your company in protecting the well-being of your employees and contribute to improved performance and productivity.

Our ergonomists can provide industrial ergonomic risk assessments for workstations and processes in a wide variety of industries and settings, ranging from manufacturing to agriculture. These assessments use validated risk assessment tools to identify hazards and provide solutions that support an employer's obligation to meet Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requirements.

A Physical Demands Description (PDD) – formerly known as Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) – is a document that identifies and quantifies the physical and environmental demands of a job’s essential and non-essential duties.

PDDs are useful for every employer to have on hand. They contain valuable information for the completion of injury claim documentation and the development of return to work and accommodation plans.

A Cognitive Demands Description (CDD) can play an integral role in a company’s ability to develop and implement a safe return to work plan when accommodating mental health concerns. They are an important element of the worker rehabilitation process and prevention of reoccurring harm.

During a CDD a WSPS ergonomist will review the specific cognitive, emotional, and psychological skills required to perform the essential duties of a job.

Poor lighting can cause several problems. For example, it can cause a worker to misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic, hinder their quality of work, or cause eye strain.

During a lighting assessment, WSPS ergonomists will measure illuminance levels and compare the results to recognized industry standards. The lighting levels can then be adjusted to maximize productivity, improve the quality of work, and prevent discomfort.

The key to successfully preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is to have a plan. WSPS can help you develop an MSD prevention program that enhances worker health and safety and optimizes performance.

An ergonomist will work with you to create a personalized MSD prevention program that takes into consideration your current practices and best-in-class standards and guidelines, such as CSA Z1004 and the Ontario MSD Prevention Guideline.

Our experts will also help you create a full rollout plan so you can get your newly formalized program up and running with your staff. We can also help you through extended consulting to bring your plan to life.

In addition to developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention program, WSPS ergonomists can support the inclusion of ergonomics in specific written policies. We will work with you to understand the work and operations, then create a written process designed to manage the risk of injury related to functions such as pushing, pulling, or lifting.

Rarely are workflow and processes managed by any one person in an organization, but they can have a lasting impact on our physical and psychological health.

Workflow and process consulting will enhance your understanding of work design and how it may impact the success of your safety program. WSPS ergonomists will engage relevant stakeholders and help you incorporate design principles into the tasks required of your workers, as well as develop written processes designed to manage the risk of injury, reduce the risk of physical and psychological harm to your employees and benefit your business’ productivity.

Are you planning to implement a new ergonomics program in your workplace? Or would you like to know how your current safety program compares to your musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention goals?

A gap analysis evaluates the difference between your current state and the desired state. Gap analysis results will inform the development of ergonomic interventions and help prioritize the allocation of resources to areas where they are needed most. Improving the workplace environment and reducing the risk of MSDs can improve worker health, increase productivity, and reduce costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses.

Already have a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention program, but want to know if it is effective? WSPS can provide an objective assessment of your program during an ergonomic program audit.

This audit evaluates your current program against the requirements outlined in the Ontario MSD Prevention Guideline and CSA Z1004:12 (R2021). Verified by the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD), the audit will help identify program gaps and strengths.

If you are looking to go beyond compliance and take your MSD prevention program to the next level, our experts can support you with an ergonomics and human factors integration audit.