Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are the most common types of injuries that workers can experience on the job. Often called sprains and strains, these injuries affect our backs, necks, arms, legs and other parts of the body.
Workplace safety and health legislation in Manitoba defines an MSI as an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels or related soft tissue, including a sprain, strain or inflammation, that may affect a worker in a workplace and that is caused or aggravated by any of the following hazards:
Ergonomics is the science of matching the job to the worker and the product to the user, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. While the office may be the first environment that springs to mind when discussing ergonomics, it’s important to realize that ergonomics plays a role in all industries. It’s involved not only in the proper design of a workstation, for example, but the setup of workers on an assembly line, in a vehicle or while using heavy equipment.
Training employees about ergonomics can be the first step toward reducing MSIs. The basic principles of ergonomics include the following:
The committee can play a vital role in creating a culture of safe ergonomics. During inspections, committee members can watch workers on an assembly line, for example, to determine if they are bending, twisting or turning multiple times per shift. They may also study work organization, such as managing repetition, work flow or work design. Observing alternate workplaces, such as a vehicle or equipment, to determine if there are hazards, is another example.
Committee members can also serve as role models. If workers notice you using proper body mechanics to lift or move a piece of equipment or practise a team lift, they will be more inclined to follow suit. Committee members can take MSI prevention or ergonomics training to ensure they promote the most appropriate ergonomic methods.
The committee can empower workers to acknowledge and practise healthy ergonomics, and raise awareness of correcting or reporting issues to their immediate supervisor.
Having an understanding of ergonomics is an asset to all committee members. Knowing what to look for during an inspection helps ensure the recognition of MSI hazards.
If a committee identifies an MSI hazard, it may provide a recommendation to the employer that involves an ergonomic control measure to mitigate or eliminate a hazard.
If a worker approaches you about an MSI concern, it is important to take action. The first step is to ask them if they have spoken to their supervisor. The supervisor may already be taking care of the concern. But if they have spoken with their supervisor and no progress has been made toward correcting the issue, the committee can perform a risk assessment with the employer and provide a recommendation. The employer then has 30 days to provide a written response to the recommendation.
For help completing an ergonomic risk assessment, search for Ergonomics under the Safety Topics tab.
Each committee member is allowed to take up to two days of safety and health training every year. Several workshops are available, including those focused on MSIs.
Your industry-based safety program may provide manual material handling training, and ergonomic assessments and training. Find more information about industry-based safety associations here.
If you would like to share your best practices with other safety and health committee leaders, we’d like to hear from you. Your idea might be featured in an upcoming issue of Safety Swap! Email information@safeworkmanitoba.ca
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba serves workers and employers through a no-fault insurance system integral to the Manitoba economy. Funded collectively by employers, the WCB promotes safe and healthy workplaces, facilitates recovery and return to work, delivers compassionate and supportive compensation services to workers and employers, and ensures responsible stewardship of Manitoba's workers' compensation system.
