Workplace-based research to improve well-being and performance: Its role in Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Prevention Centre of Research Expertise for

Workplace-based research to improve well-being and performance: Its role in Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Prevention

Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders CRE-MSDwww.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca

Presented by Richard Wells, M.Eng., Ph.D., CCPEUniversity of Waterloo

Meeting Objectives

introduce CRE-MSD the role of workplace-based research in

your decision making we want the voice of industry to be

represented in our decision making

Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders

CRE-MSD receives support from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario, Research Advisory Council

Principles and Practices of Job Rotation, 7th December 2004University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Job rotation, together with the development of job variety and job enlargement, is a common strategy of organizations from the point of view of workplace health and the improvement of productivity. But what do we know about it? There are still many questions that need to be asked: Is job rotation a way of preventing musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities (MSDs)? Does job rotation lead to increased job satisfaction or quality or productivity? Are there disadvantages of job rotation?

This workshop will consider workplace organizational factors, working conditions, and the organizational benefits of job rotation, and how they relate to the prevention of MSDs in industry. These questions present the opportunity to participate in an exchange of views and discussion.

The morning will be dedicated to presentations from researchers who have studied the effects of job rotation with responses from business and labour and a panel discussion. The afternoon will begin with case studies from organizations that have had experience with job rotation. Attendees will then break into small, interactive discussion groups. They will share their experiences: the reason for adopting job rotation, their experiences of implementing rotation, and their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of job rotation.

The results of these discussions will be recorded and made available after the workshop.

J ob Rotation- is it a Solution?

Who should attend?This workshop is aimed at employers, workers, injured worker associations, unions, and ergonomists and OH & S consultants within the Health and Safety Associations and WSIB.

A workshop presented by the Centre of Research Expertise in the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Disabilities (cre-PREMUS) This new Centre works with workplace parties to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities by utilizing knowledge developed from basic research and workplace studies. The Centre receives substantial funding through a grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (Ontario).

Principles and Practices of Job Rotation, 7th December 2004University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Job rotation, together with the development of job variety and job enlargement, is a common strategy of organizations from the point of view of workplace health and the improvement of productivity. But what do we know about it? There are still many questions that need to be asked: Is job rotation a way of preventing musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities (MSDs)? Does job rotation lead to increased job satisfaction or quality or productivity? Are there disadvantages of job rotation?

This workshop will consider workplace organizational factors, working conditions, and the organizational benefits of job rotation, and how they relate to the prevention of MSDs in industry. These questions present the opportunity to participate in an exchange of views and discussion.

The morning will be dedicated to presentations from researchers who have studied the effects of job rotation with responses from business and labour and a panel discussion. The afternoon will begin with case studies from organizations that have had experience with job rotation. Attendees will then break into small, interactive discussion groups. They will share their experiences: the reason for adopting job rotation, their experiences of implementing rotation, and their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of job rotation.

The results of these discussions will be recorded and made available after the workshop.

J ob Rotation- is it a Solution?

Who should attend?This workshop is aimed at employers, workers, injured worker associations, unions, and ergonomists and OH & S consultants within the Health and Safety Associations and WSIB.

A workshop presented by the Centre of Research Expertise in the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Disabilities (cre-PREMUS) This new Centre works with workplace parties to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities by utilizing knowledge developed from basic research and workplace studies. The Centre receives substantial funding through a grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (Ontario).

President and C.E.O. of CIMTEKTed brings over 20 years experience and broad background in business leadership and strategic business management in a variety of major industries to our discussions

Ted Pattenden

Our Presenters

Department of Kinanthropologie, University of Québec at Montréal (UQAM) MontréalNicole's fields of research include ergonomic study and analysis, worker health, repetitive work, and the division of labour between male and female workers.

Nicole Vezina

Department of Kinesiology and CRE-PREMUS, University of Waterloo, WaterlooRichard is Director of CRE PREMUS and has worked for the last two decades in the causes of MSDs, assessment of work and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders

Richard Wells

Work Organization & Training, CAWDavid has co-ordinated a number of CAW research projects, written case studies of technological change and a number of articles onworking conditions benchmarking.

David Robertson

Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Academic Medical Center / University of Amsterdam The Netherlands . Paul is working as a senior researcher and consultant in the field of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with special interest in the effectiveness of interventions.

Paul Kuijer

Department of Kinesiology and CRE-PREMUS, University of Waterloo, Waterloo.Mardy’s primary interest is the identification of risk factors for, and the reduction of, workplace injury. He has been using employee and employer involvement to investigate techniques for the identification and measurement of injury risk factors for the upper limb and low back. .

Mardy Frazer


Ted Pattenden

Our Presenters


Nicole Vezina


Richard Wells


David Robertson


Paul Kuijer


Mardy Frazer

Break with light refreshments3:15-3:30pm

Schedule

Reporting back from workshops followed by questions and a summary3:30-4:30pm

Break with light refreshments10:30-11:00am

Break into small groups to address implementation questions 2:00- 3:15pm

Case study presentations12:45-2:00pm

Light Lunch12:00-12:45pm

Commentary from a business and labour perspective followed by panel discussion with presenters.11:00-12:00

Findings on job rotation from field research in Canada and Europe 9:00-10:30

Registration8:00-9:00 am


Schedule









For more information please contact: Darlene Garside [email protected], University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1Tel: (519) 888-4567 X5513 or Fax: (519) 886-5488 www.cre-premus.uwaterloo.ca


Ted Pattenden

Our Presenters


Nicole Vezina


Richard Wells


David Robertson


Paul Kuijer


Mardy Frazer


Ted Pattenden

Our Presenters


Nicole Vezina


Richard Wells


David Robertson


Paul Kuijer


Mardy Frazer


Schedule










Schedule









For more information please contact: Darlene Garside [email protected], University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1Tel: (519) 888-4567 X5513 or Fax: (519) 886-5488 www.cre-premus.uwaterloo.ca

Workshops andConferences:

Web Site:Build Research Capacity:

Stakeholder Interactions:

Activities

Starter Grants:

Internships:

Issues?

High demand occupations,

Lack of skilled workers,

Aging workforce,

Performance/ productivity

Compensation and replacement costs

A Story…

A manager in the transportation sector is having difficulty recruiting drivers. He is restricted to the pool of applicants who are capable of the high physical demands placed upon truck drivers.

He is also having trouble in scheduling as many of his most experienced drivers have some restrictions due to pains and strains.

There is a shortage of skilled drivers.

MSD

“Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system…

…where exposure to various risk factors in the workplace…

…may have either contributed to the disorders' development, or aggravated a pre-existing condition”

(OHSCO MSD Strategy Development Committee, 2005)

MSD Facts

For the period 1996-2002, MSD accounted for: (a) more than 40% of all lost time claims; (b) more than 48% of all claim-related lost time

days; and, (c) more than 42% of all lost time benefit claim

costs (averaged over the period).

Source: WSIB’s Information Warehouse and Prevention Strategy For Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) In Ontario

MSD burden

Office Environment. In the last year due to MSD…

Lost days at work

Pain > 12 times or > 7 days in last year, moderate intensity

Reported to workplace

Saw health practitioner

Work aggravates pain to some extent

Any neck or upper limb pain

15%

20%

22%

29%

51%

60%Polanyi et al 1997

Impacts of MSDs

Amongst the 51% of office workers who reported that Amongst the 51% of office workers who reported that their neck and upper limb pain was aggravated by their neck and upper limb pain was aggravated by work:work:

•7% had difficulty sticking to their work routine or 7% had difficulty sticking to their work routine or scheduleschedule•9% had difficulty concentrating on work9% had difficulty concentrating on work•16% had difficulty using pens, computer keyboards 16% had difficulty using pens, computer keyboards etc. for at least half of the workdayetc. for at least half of the workday

Not only is there a burden on the individual, but there Not only is there a burden on the individual, but there is an decrease in their output… “Presentee-ism”is an decrease in their output… “Presentee-ism”

Polanyi et al 1997

Solutions not Problems!

Workplace based research has identified the burden and workplace causes of MSD.

But can workplace based research help address the problem??

Anecdote-based prevention?

Back Belts were heavily marketed as preventing low back pain BUT

Epidemiological studies show belts have little or no effect on low back pain

Laboratory studies show belts have little effect on spinal loading

Anecdote-based prevention?

Without workplace research, organizations would continue to waste time and resources on ineffective solutions, time and resources that could be better spent

Evidence based prevention

Mechanical lift-assists installed in acute and chronic care facilities

Earlier return to work when lift assists used

Newer ceiling lifts likely to produce even larger reductions

#Lost Time

012345678

Lift Used Lift Not Used

/100 FTE

Pre

Post

Lost Days

0

0.51

1.5

2

2.53

3.5

Lift Used Lift Not Used

/100 FTE

Pre

Post

Evanoff et al 2003, Engst et al 2005

Workplace-based research shows:

For prevention of MSD: Training alone not a solution Equipment alone not a solution Policy alone not a solution Policy, equipment and training needed

Using a coordinated strategy, address workplace physical, cognitive or work organizational risks then train specifically

Who benefits from MSD prevention?

Workers whose symptoms developed as a direct result of current work

Workers who have cumulative damage from previous work experiences

Workers who developed back pain after a weekend’s yard work or caring for their small children… they have responsibilities outside work.

Workers who have age-related changes

Don’t reinvent the wheel!

MSD Prevention

Health Promotion Stress

Prevention

ABC

D

F

Production Engineering

For example:

A) Reduce vibration

B) Improve manual materials handling for slips and falls

C) Maintain adequate lighting for tasks

D) Improve social support for accommodation

E) Design for lower forces and improved postures

E

Safety Occupational Hygiene

A Story…. continued

The organization is now embarking on a process of identifying and modifying the highest demand activities

The goal is to retain skilled and aging workers as well as expand their applicant pool to select drivers that can not only handle the physical demands but excel in safe driving as well as customer relations

We are working with many companies to track the effects of their strategy

Benefits of workplace based research…

Organizations get results that are relevant to their specific challenges.

Organizations get direct access to most recent findings on workplace health.

Researchers increase their knowledge about workplaces.

Researches find out what organizations need

Researchers gain confidence that findings are transferable and relevant to workplaces

Ontario Research Partners

IWH, CRE-MSD, CRE-OD, CREIDO Institute for Work & Health; Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal

Disorders; Centre of Research Expertise for Occupational Diseases Centre of Research Expertise for Improved Disability Outcomes.

(one more is being funded for Occupational Cancers)

Funded by WSIB

Perform workplace-based research into occupational health & safety in collaboration with workplaces

Documents

Workplace-based research to improve well-being and performance: Its role in Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Prevention Centre of Research Expertise for