Healthcare work is physically demanding and often involves complex client care activities that could place employees at risk for injuries associated with musculoskeletal disorders. A coordinated and systematic approach is required to develop and implement a comprehensive and successful client-handling program.
Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders
The goal of MSD prevention is to minimize or eliminate MSD hazards in the workplace to reduce the number and likelihood of workers being injured or experiencing pain on the job. Adopting a stepwise approach to recognize, assess, control, and evaluate MSD hazards can assist in standardizing the approach to MSD prevention. This approach can be broken down into the following steps:
- Ensure senior management commitment and employee involvement
- Program needs assessment
- Program development
- Program implementation
- Program evaluation and continual improvement
Such an approach acknowledges these various practices, which together, create a unique structure to manage MSD hazards and related issues that address the unique needs of each organization. The key to successful health and safety hazard management is not only identifying and controlling risks in the workplace but also evaluating and continually improving the system itself.
The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) encourages the participation of all workplace parties in occupational health and safety. This notion of participation is reinforced through the legislated duties outlined for all workplace parties in the OHSA, meaning health and safety is a shared responsibility.
All workplace parties can do their part to meet their legal duties - participation, collaboration and cooperation of all workplace parties are key factors to a successful prevention effort.
Here are some tools to help you along the way:
Ontario MSD Prevention Guideline
The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) has led a collaborative process to develop a new Ontario MSD Prevention Guideline, updating the older 2007 version and supporting the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s priorities in the Strategic Framework and Small Businesses.
Pains and strains, repetitive strain injuries (RSI), low back pain, shoulder pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome, collectively known as Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSD, represent one of the leading causes of disability and pain in workers and the largest source of employers’ compensation claims. This new Guideline will assist organizations in the prevention of MSD through the use of its content and resources.
work shouldnt hurt
The Guideline has been designed for all companies and workers to address the prevention of MSD, which includes three versions based on an organization’s size and available resources:
Quick Start Guideline: General
Tailored to organizations that:
- Are small or very small (also called “micro” businesses)
- May have a Health and Safety Representative
- May not have much knowledge and few resources in Health and Safety
- May be unfamiliar with MSD and their prevention
Basic Guideline
Tailored to organizations that:
- Have a person or persons with knowledge, experience, and responsibility for Health and Safety
- Have a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)
- Have policies and procedures for health and safety addressing most hazards but want to improve their MSD prevention activities
Comprehensive Guideline
Tailored to organizations that:
- Have multiple persons and/or a Department with special knowledge, experience, and responsibility for Health and Safety
- Have a formal management framework that is used to oversee the organization's activities
- Have a formal or informal management system for Health and Safety, such as ISO 45001 or CSA Z1000
- Have comprehensive policies and procedures for health and safety that address most hazards but want to improve their MSD prevention activities.
Office work shouldn't hurt! Small changes in the office can make a big difference in preventing the development of MSD. The Office Quick Start Guideline contains quick workplace fixes to help keep workers free of MSD while performing office work. It provides basic information and encourages businesses to get started on preventing MSD during office work and helps workers configure their workstations. This Quick Start Guideline is comprised of fact sheets and posters that can be downloaded and distributed freely.
The website content includes an introductory video and fact sheet, newly developed hazard identification and control approaches, graphics, and downloadable templates and documents that can be found in the Resource Library.
MSD Resources
General MSD
Fast Facts & Tools
- Ergonomic Tips for Dietary Staff
- Ergonomic Tips for Resident or Patient Bathrooms
- Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Laboratory Environment
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Checklist for Identification of Risk Factors Associated with Hand-Arm & Back Injuries
Webinars & eLearning
- Community Care Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Community Care Musculoskeletal Disorders (French)
- Community Living MSD Injury Prevention
Office Ergonomics
Fast Facts & Tools
Webinars & eLearning
Client Handling
Fast Facts & Tools
- Building a Successful Client Handling Program
- Client Mobility Review Poster (8.5×11)
- Handle with Care Resource Manual
- Client Mobility Logo Cards
- Client Mobility Review CARE Card
Webinars & eLearning
- MSD Injury Training For Direct Support Professionals
- A Fall in Acute Care
- A Fall at Home
- Bed to Wheelchair Transfer Using a Total Lift
- Lift Supported Ambulation Using a Walking Sling
- Lift Supported Repositioning and Log Rolling
- Panniculus and Limb Lifting
Manual Materials Handling
Fast Facts & Tools
Training & Related Services
Initiatives
