Transcript Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Prevention

Workplace-based research to improve
well-being and performance:
Its role in Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)
Prevention
Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal
Disorders CRE-MSD
www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca
Presented by Richard Wells, M.Eng., Ph.D., CCPE
University of Waterloo
Meeting Objectives
 introduce CRE-MSD
 the role of workplace-based research in
your decision making
 we want the voice of industry to be
represented in our decision making
Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Activities
Stakeholder
Interactions:
Workshops and
Conferences:
Job Rotation- is it a
Solution?
Principles and Practices of Job Rotation, 7th December 2004
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
Job rotation, together with the development of job variety and job enlargement, is a common strategy of
organizations from the point of view of workplace health and the improvement of productivity. But what do
we know about it? There are still many questions that need to be asked: Is job rotation a way of preventing
musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities (MSDs)? Does job rotation lead to increased job satisfaction or
quality or productivity? Are there disadvantages of job rotation?
This workshop will consider workplace organizational factors, working conditions, and the organizational
benefits of job rotation, and how they relate to the prevention of MSDs in industry. These questions present
Schedule
the opportunity to participate in an exchange of views and discussion.
Registration
8:00-9:00 am
job effects
rotation from
field research in Canada and Europe
9:00-10:30
The morning will be dedicated to presentations from
researchers who haveFindings
studiedonthe
of job
rotation with responses from business and labour and
a panel discussion. The
will begin with
Breakafternoon
with light refreshments
10:30-11:00am
case studies from organizations that have had experience with job rotation.Commentary
Attendeesfrom
willathen
break into
business and labour perspective followed by panel discussion with presenters.
11:00-12:00
small, interactive discussion groups. They will share their experiences: the reason for adopting job rotation,
Light Lunch
12:00-12:45pm
their experiences of implementing rotation, and their
perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of
Case study presentations
12:45-2:00pm
job rotation.
Break into small groups to address implementation questions
2:00- 3:15pm
The results of these discussions will be recorded and made available after Break
the workshop.
with light refreshments
3:15-3:30pm
Who should attend?
3:30-4:30pm
Reporting back from workshops followed by questions and a summary
This workshop is aimed at employers, workers, injured worker associations, unions, and ergonomists
and OH & S consultants within the Health and Safety Associations and WSIB.
Our Presenters
A workshop presented by the Centre of Research
Expertise
in the Prevention
of Musculoskeletal
Department
of Kinesiology and CRE-PREMUS,
Mardy
Frazer
Disorders and Disabilities (cre-PREMUS) This new Centre works with workplace
to reduce
Universityparties
of Waterloo,
Waterloo.
musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities by utilizing knowledge developedMardy’s
from primary
basic research
and
interest is the
identification of risk factors for, and the
of, workplace
injury. He has been using employee and
workplace studies. The Centre receives substantial funding through a grantreduction
provided
by the Workplace
employer involvement to investigate techniques for the identification
Safety and Insurance Board (Ontario).
and measurement of injury risk factors for the upper limb and low
back. .
Paul Kuijer
Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental
Health, Academic Medical Center / University of
Amsterdam The Netherlands .
Paul is working as a senior researcher and consultant in the field of
work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with special interest in the
effectiveness of interventions.
Ted Pattenden
President and C.E.O. of CIMTEK
Ted brings over 20 years experience and broad background in
business leadership and strategic business management in a variety
of major industries to our discussions
David Robertson
Work Organization & Training, CAW
David has co-ordinated a number of CAW research projects, written
case studies of technological change and a number of articles on
working conditions benchmarking.
Nicole Vezina
Department of Kinanthropologie, University of Québec at
Montréal (UQAM) Montréal
Nicole's fields of research include ergonomic study and analysis,
worker health, repetitive work, and the division of labour between
male and female workers.
Richard Wells
Department of Kinesiology and CRE-PREMUS,
University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Richard is Director of CRE PREMUS and has worked for the last two
decades in the causes of MSDs, assessment of work and prevention
of musculoskeletal disorders
Starter Grants:
For more information please contact: Darlene Garside [email protected]
CRE-PREMUS, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Tel: (519) 888-4567 X5513 or Fax: (519) 886-5488
www.cre-premus.uwaterloo.ca
Web Site:
Build Research
Capacity:
Internships:
CRE-MSD receives support from
the Workplace Safety and
Insurance Board of Ontario,
Research Advisory Council
Issues?
High demand occupations,
Lack of skilled workers,
Aging workforce,
Performance/ productivity
Compensation and replacement costs
A Story…
A manager in the transportation sector is
having difficulty recruiting drivers. He is
restricted to the pool of applicants who are
capable of the high physical demands
placed upon truck drivers.
He is also having trouble in scheduling as
many of his most experienced drivers have
some restrictions due to pains and strains.
There is a shortage of skilled drivers.
MSD
“Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are injuries
and disorders of the musculoskeletal
system…
…where exposure to various risk factors in
the workplace…
…may have either contributed to the
disorders' development, or aggravated a
pre-existing condition”
(OHSCO MSD Strategy Development Committee, 2005)
MSD Facts
For the period 1996-2002, MSD accounted
for:
 (a) more than 40% of all lost time claims;
 (b) more than 48% of all claim-related lost time
days; and,
 (c) more than 42% of all lost time benefit claim
costs (averaged over the period).

Source: WSIB’s Information Warehouse and Prevention Strategy For Musculoskeletal
Disorders (MSD) In Ontario
MSD burden
Office Environment. In the last
year due to MSD…
Lost days at work
Pain > 12 times or > 7 days in
last year, moderate intensity
Reported to workplace
15%
20%
22%
Saw health practitioner
29%
Work aggravates pain to some
extent
Any neck or upper limb pain
51%
60%
Polanyi et al 1997
Impacts of MSDs
Amongst the 51% of office workers who reported that
their neck and upper limb pain was aggravated by
work:
•7% had difficulty sticking to their work routine or
schedule
•9% had difficulty concentrating on work
•16% had difficulty using pens, computer keyboards
etc. for at least half of the workday
Not only is there a burden on the individual, but there
is an decrease in their output… “Presentee-ism”
Polanyi et al 1997
Solutions not Problems!
Workplace based research has identified the
burden and workplace causes of MSD.
But can workplace based research help
address the problem??
Anecdote-based prevention?
Back Belts were heavily marketed as preventing
low back pain BUT
Laboratory studies
show belts have
little effect on
spinal loading
Epidemiological
studies show belts
have little or no
effect on low back
pain
Anecdote-based prevention?
Without workplace research, organizations
would continue to waste time and resources
on ineffective solutions, time and resources
that could be better spent
Evidence based prevention
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Pre
Post
Lift Used
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Pre
Post
Lift Used
Evanoff et al 2003, Engst et al 2005
Lift Not Used
Lost Days
/100 FTE
 Mechanical liftassists installed in
acute and chronic
care facilities
 Earlier return to
work when lift
assists used
 Newer ceiling lifts
likely to produce
even larger
reductions
/100 FTE
#Lost Time
Lift Not Used
Workplace-based research shows:
For prevention of MSD:
 Training alone not a solution
 Equipment alone not a solution
 Policy alone not a solution
 Policy, equipment and training needed
 Using a coordinated strategy, address
workplace physical, cognitive or work
organizational risks then train specifically
Who benefits from MSD prevention?
 Workers whose symptoms developed as a
direct result of current work
 Workers who have cumulative damage
from previous work experiences
 Workers who developed back pain after a
weekend’s yard work or caring for their
small children… they have responsibilities
outside work.
 Workers who have age-related changes
Don’t reinvent the wheel!
For example:
A) Reduce vibration
B) Improve manual
materials handling
for slips and falls
C) Maintain adequate
lighting for tasks
D) Improve social
support for
accommodation
E) Design for lower
forces and
improved postures
Safety
Occupational
Hygiene
C
B
Production
Engineering
E
A
MSD
Prevention
D
F
Health
Promotion
Stress
Prevention
A Story…. continued
 The organization is now embarking on a process of
identifying and modifying the highest demand
activities
 The goal is to retain skilled and aging workers as
well as expand their applicant pool to select drivers
that can not only handle the physical demands but
excel in safe driving as well as customer relations
We are working with many companies to track the
effects of their strategy
Benefits of workplace based research…
Organizations get results that are relevant to their
specific challenges.
Organizations get direct access to most recent findings
on workplace health.
Researchers increase their knowledge about
workplaces.
Researches find out what organizations need
Researchers gain confidence that findings are
transferable and relevant to workplaces
Ontario Research Partners
 IWH, CRE-MSD, CRE-OD, CREIDO
 Institute for Work & Health;
 Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal
Disorders;
 Centre of Research Expertise for Occupational Diseases
 Centre of Research Expertise for Improved Disability Outcomes.
(one more is being funded for Occupational Cancers)
 Funded by WSIB
 Perform workplace-based research into
occupational health & safety in collaboration with
workplaces