WEEK THREE - February 20, 2026

Part 1: Welcome Message and Overview

Speaker: Trevor Schell - Coordinator/OHCOW Ergonomist

Part 2: Simplifying Ergonomic Risk, A First Look at the PERAT Risk Assessment

Speaker: Nathan Birtch - WSPS Consultant (Ergonomics)

Identifying musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards is often supported by simple checklists, but prioritizing these hazards and assigning risk ratings typically requires complex assessment tools and specialized ergonomics knowledge. To address this gap, Nathan Birtch, Ergonomist at WSPS, collaborated with employers and fellow ergonomists to design and pilot a practical, easy-to-use solution: the Preliminary Ergonomics Risk Assessment Tool (PERAT). PERAT goes beyond basic checklists, providing a structured approach without the complexity or time demands of in-depth ergonomic assessments. In this session, we’ll introduce the tool, share insights from its 2025 trial, and outline next steps for formal evaluation and validation. While PERAT is not yet available for general use, plans are underway to release it alongside a training component to ensure effective implementation.

Part 3: From Pixels to Prevention: How AI is Changing Ergonomic Assessment

Speaker: Steven L. Fischer - Associate Professor | Associate Chair Applied Research Partnerships and Outreach
Associate Director Research, CRE-MSD and Department of Kinesiology | University of Waterloo

This presentation will share insights about how advances in computer vision and artificial intelligence are transforming simple smart phone videos into actionable insights for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention. Attendees will learn how emerging best-practice guidelines are shaping the responsible use of AI for ergonomic assessment, including a specific case-example of the use of computer vision to drive a revised NIOSH Lifting Equation analysis.