By Linda Sagmeister, CCPE, CRSP
In many provinces and even federally, Canadians have Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations that include provisions for the prevention of soft tissue injuries, also referred to as musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) or musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).
Ergonomics, or human factors, is a broad field involving issues of safe and effective human interaction with the design and use of all aspects of the work environment including systems, organizations, equipment and tasks. As a result, it is difficult to create a comprehensive “ergonomics regulation.” In addition, application of ergonomics principles in physical, cognitive and design areas are more likely to take place in standards, guidelines and best practices documents within and outside of the OHS arena, depending on how ergonomics is being applied.
Currently, it is primarily physical ergonomics principles that are used in OHS regulations to prevent the onset of MSI in workplaces through regulating how physical work, such as lifting, standing and sitting, among others, can be accomplished.
Systems designed in the absence of ergonomics or consideration of human limitations and tendencies can result in human error.
Therefore, in addition to enforcing MSI prevention, it may be valuable for governments and other agencies, such as standard-setting groups and worker/employer representative associations, to consider the prevention of “human error” through accident investigation techniques or in the form of worker involvement in the design of systems and work organization of tasks (for example, participatory ergonomics).
A brief summary of current provincial ergonomics-related regulations is provided in Table 1. Note that regulations may be under review and are subject to change.
Federally, the Canada Labour Code II makes reference to Ergonomics regulations, which were passed federally late in 2007.
These amendments to the Hazard Prevention Program require federal employers to incorporate prevention of ergonomics-related hazards in the program. This includes hazard identification, assessment, developing preventive measures and employee education on ergonomics. Visit the following website: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/.
Linda Sagmeister is an Ergonomist with the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador.
Taken From http://www.ace-ergocanada.ca/
