Search OSSA Site for:

OSSA Support Line:
1-888-478-OSSA (6772)

• Products
• Services
• Resources
• Community

 

Education & Inspection - Ontario's New Pains & Strains Campaign

By OSSA

Ergonomic-related injuries and hazards are a current focus for the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL).  Ministry inspectors will be asking questions about the steps your property has taken to prevent workers from developing pains and strains or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and what control measures are in place. As a result, employers in the accommodation industry will need to start looking at ergonomics issues in their workplace and develop a program to prevent pains and strains.

Why the focus on Pains and Strains?

Pains and strains are injuries to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves.  Examples of pains and strains include back/elbow/shoulder pain, muscle strain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries.  Pains and strains often start as minor aches, pains and can develop into disabling injuries that affect even simple tasks of daily living.

MSDs result in significant costs for Ontario employers – “from 1996--2004, Ontario’s workers compensation system approved more than 382,000 MSD lost-time claims. These claims led to nearly 27 million lost-time days and direct costs of more than $3.3 billion”.1

Most importantly, MSDs are preventable. The risks to employees can be minimized by eliminating and reducing exposure to work related risk factors.

 

What does the MOL Pains and Strain Campaign look like?

The Pains and Strains campaign will address areas of awareness, education and prevention. Included are strategies to increasing and improving resource materials, training, expertise within the province and tracking of ergonomic-related inspections.

Ministry inspectors will be looking at risk factors during inspections to raise awareness of pains and strains. The types of injuries will be reviewed along with the preventive steps an employer has taken. Inspectors may issue orders for: improving the ergonomics of a work station; training workers on proper body mechanics and lifting techniques; developing and implementing an ergonomics program.

An MSD Provincial Guideline has recently been drafted and has been released to the public for consultation and is expected to be released in late November of this year. Various tools, sector specific training, products and services will supplement the guideline and be available to assist employers.

  

What will be the Impact on You?

Even if none of your employees have filed a WSIB Claim or reported MSD symptoms, you will still be required to have a program to prevent MSDs in the workplace.  

As an employer, it is your responsibility to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers from hazards and this responsibility includes looking at any hazard that may result pains and strains or MSD injuries.  Having a program is actually currently required by law. The main change is that the proposed MSD Provincial Guidelines currently being developed will outline the specific requirements for employers.  The main requirements of the proposed guidelines include:

• Requirement of all employers to look at all the jobs performed at their workplaces and
• Identify any MSD hazards and
• Put in appropriate controls for identified hazards to ultimately prevent the injuries from happening.

^ top of page

How can you get started on an Ergonomic Program?

1). Know the warning signs of pains and strains in your workers.

• Modifications to tools or workstations are being made.
• Employees are wearing splints or supports or reporting pain, discomfort or fatigue.
• Employees are massaging muscles or joints or shake their limbs.
• Certain task or jobs are being avoided because it causes pain.

2). Identify potential risk factors such as:

• Work that places their elbows above shoulder height, or their hands behind their bodies
• Tasks that call for frequent bending or twisting of their necks
• Work requiring frequent or prolonged grasping and holding of objects or frequent wrist movements
• Work that requires frequent lifting of items from below knee height or above the shoulders
• Work requiring frequent bending or twisting at the waist
• Tasks that involve carrying, lifting, pushing or pulling heavy or awkward loads
• Work requiring long periods of time with a body part held in any one position without movement.

 

3). Identify and assess the jobs/tasks performed by employees which have the above risk factors.  For example, consider the following positions & tasks:

•  Housekeepers – making beds, vacuuming, cleaning rooms (i.e. bathtubs/showers) 
• Front desk/reservation – computer and phone work
• Food & beverage – preparing food, cooking,  delivering  food,
• Maintenance staff – material handling (i.e. unloading trucks)

 

 4). Look at current control measures and identify how you can minimize the risks to your employees:

• Train workers about the MSD risk factors in their job and in the workplace
• Encourage workers to report MSD symptoms early and participate in the ergonomic program
• Put in administration controls (i.e. job rotation) and engineering  controls (i.e. modified tools/equipment) to reduce employees exposure to the risk factors
• Follow-up to ensure preventive controls and measures are working

 

What help is out there?

 

For your first stop, visit the OSSA's Ergonomics & MSD Resource page.

There are a number of resources and sources information on how to start addressing ergonomic hazards at your property.  For example, MSD facts on are published on the MOL website (www.labour.gov.on.ca). 

The Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA), provides a number of resources available for companies including guides on risk factors leading to MSDs, tools for hazard recognition, and tips for ergonomic problem solving. Call 1-888-478-6772 for details.

 

 

1 Ontario Ministry of Labour - Prevent Workplace Pains & Strains! It’s time to take action!  www.labour.gov.on.ca

 

 

^ top of page