STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE

BY: THE HONOURABLE STEVE PETERS MINISTER OF LABOUR

REGARDING: REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY AWARENESS DAY

QUEEN'S PARK
FEBRUARY 28, 2006

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Thank you Speaker.

Today is International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day.

This day is recognized annually to raise awareness of ergonomic-related injuries.

Speaker, these types of injuries are a major concern in Ontario workplaces.

They are not the types of injuries that show up on the news – like falls off scaffolding and chemical explosions.

They are common, everyday injuries like back pains and muscle strains.

They are caused by repetitive, stressful or awkward movements on bones, joints and ligaments.

And it is precisely because these injuries are so common … so everyday, that they are such a concern.

The health and safety of Ontario workers is our number one priority.

Ergonomic-related injuries account for 42 per cent of all lost-time injuries in the province of Ontario.

These injuries are taking a tremendous toll, both in human and financial terms.

They are the number one reason for lost-time injury claims reported to the WSIB.

They result in huge direct and indirect costs to employers, estimated at a staggering $12 billion over eight years.

And they result in untold pain and suffering for Ontario workers.

Mr. Speaker, our government is acting to solve the problem.

We recognize that progress is being made, but there is more work to be done.

One year ago today our government marked RSI Awareness Day by forming the Ergonomics Advisory Sub-Committee to recommend ways to better protect Ontario workers.

Made up of representatives from labour and management, the panel examined best practices and policies for addressing this serious cause of injury.

I’d like to thank these representatives for their hard work and dedication.

In September, they submitted their initial report and we are moving forward on that report.

In January, I launched the government’s Pains and Strains Campaign and announced that we are committed to addressing all of the Ministry of Labour specific recommendations.

The campaign deals with areas such as awareness, education and prevention as well as improved training, more resource materials, increased expertise and better tracking of ergonomic-related inspections.

Speaker, almost everyone we talked to supports education and awareness as an important first step in prevention.

The Ministry of Labour and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board worked together to develop an ergonomics tip sheet.

It raises awareness of the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. And it provides facts, prevention tips and links to a wealth of information.

As well, beginning in April, ministry inspectors will focus on basic risk factors during inspections of high-risk workplaces.

This will happen in the industrial and health care sectors.

They will distribute copies of our tip sheet to these employers.

At the same time, each organization’s experience with ergonomic-related injuries will be reviewed along with preventative steps they have taken.

This will help employers identify ergonomic risks and how to prevent them.

Our inspectors will encourage employers, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to connect with their Safe Workplace Association to implement inexpensive, cost-effective solutions.

By doing so we will enable these employers to take action, to implement solutions.

Speaker, we believe a safe workplace is a good workplace that also makes good business sense.

Frankly, healthier workplaces make for healthier bottom lines.

Here in Ontario, we are creating a corporate culture that makes workplace health and safety a top priority.

Our long-term plan, which will be carried out over the next 18 months, includes more enhanced ergonomics training for our inspectors. This training will allow them to actively look for, and better recognize, ergonomic hazards as part of an inspection.

This will ensure that if employers have not taken action, our inspectors will have the knowledge to better enforce the employer’s obligation with respect to ergonomics.

Speaker, Ontario workers will be protected.

I am pleased to tell members about the next phase in the government’s Pains and Strains Campaign to support our education and awareness focus.

Today we are launching a new section of the ministry’s website dedicated entirely to ergonomics.

The web section supports the Pains and Strains campaign by providing simple, straightforward information for employers and workers.

The sometimes technical nature of ergonomic-related terminology is written in plain-language – so that it is easy to understand by any audience.

Speaker, last week, I had the privilege of meeting, once again, with the Ergonomics Sub-Committee.

As part of their initial discussions, the panel was unable to agree whether or not an ergonomics regulation was necessary.

They committed to going back and taking a closer look at the issue. I now have that report.

I want to thank the members of the sub-committee for all their hard work and thoughtfulness. We are now in the process of reviewing their report.

I will be meeting with the committee again in March to discuss their deliberations.

In the meantime we are continuing to move ahead with our plan.

We are working to end the suffering that these types of injuries create for workers.

We are working to reduce the financial burden that these types of injuries create for employers.

We will continue to work with our health and safety partners to provide more information and better resources.

We will make sure that the necessary technical and field support is in place to support our work.

And our inspectors will have the knowledge to better enforce the employer’s obligation with respect to ergonomics.

If we work together, we can achieve our goal of safer workplaces.

We will continue to fulfill our plan to protect Ontarians.

Thank you Speaker.