Ergonomics: Manual Material Handling

Celebrated in October each year, Global Ergonomics Month is an international outreach campaign promoting human-centred design through the science, application and profession of ergonomics or human factors. These disciplines are focused on optimizing human well-being as well as overall system performance by proactively designing work and work systems to fit the people interfacing with them in ways that improve efficiency, productivity, health, safety and comfort. Ergonomics is ultimately good for business and good for people.

Lost-time Injuries

In Ontario, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of lost-time injuries. These MSDs include a variety of injuries that can affect muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, or spinal discs. Workplace hazards that increase the risk of developing MSDs include exposure to high forces, awkward postures, high repetition, duration of work, vibration, local contact stresses, and cold environments.

Resources

Manual Materials Handling Video Series

This series of eight videos was produced during Global Ergonomics Month 2024 in recognition of the MLITSD Industrial Sector Compliance Initiative on Material Handling (available on their website). This year-long enforcement campaign asks inspectors to visit various sectors where fatalities and critical injuries are taking place. The focus is on workplaces where materials, articles or things are lifted, carried, or moved, and puts workers at risk of being injured by their movement.

Interactive Body Map

This interactive map demonstrates what MSD conditions are associated with areas of the body. Link to web pages and download pdfs with information about each MSD condition.

Newly Added Ergo Info Sheets!

RSI Day Webinar

Presenters:

Katie Goggins – CROSH
Alison Godwin – CROSH

Our work environments and procedures continue to evolve with advances in technology, and so do the methods for evaluating the physical and cognitive demands of jobs. This session will:

• Review the use of physical demands analysis (PDA)
• Expand on methods for evaluating manual materials handling (MMH) and posture analysis
• Discuss emerging ways to tackle cognitive demands analysis