Overview

Hazards related to poor ergonomics must be treated the same as any other workplace hazard. This means they need to be:

  • recognized and identified
  • assessed
  • eliminated or controlled

Employers who are covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), and its regulations, have legal obligations to protect workers from hazards due to poor ergonomics, such as:

Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development inspectors check to make sure workers are protected from these workplace hazards.

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards

Learn about MSDs and their causes.

As an employer, to reduce MSD risk, you must:

Learn about the MSD Prevention Guidelines for Ontario.

Keep equipment in good condition

Equipment, materials or protective devices that are in disrepair can increase the risk of an MSD.

Under clause 25(1)(b) of the OHSA, employers must make sure the equipment, materials and protective devices they provide are maintained in good condition.

For example:

  • wheels on carts are not broken, misaligned, flat, have items caught in them or tangled with debris. This is because wheels in disrepair can increase the push/pull forces required to move the cart
  • bearings are properly maintained, otherwise the effort required to move the equipment increases (for example, dumping cement from a cement mixer)
  • seats do not have missing or torn padding otherwise the amount of whole-body vibration transmitted to the worker may increase
  • hand tools are properly maintained, otherwise the amount of hand-arm vibration transmitted to the worker may increase
  • hand tools do not have broken handles, otherwise contact stress may injure the worker’s hand
  • height-adjustable equipment is not broken, otherwise awkward postures may result
  • hoists or mechanical lifts are not in disrepair, otherwise physical demands on workers may increase
  • chairs are not in disrepair, otherwise the worker may experience poor posture
  • keyboard trays are functioning correctly so the keyboard is at a proper height
  • overhead or task lighting is functioning correctly, otherwise the worker may experience awkward postures or eye strain

Provide information, instruction and supervision

Under clause 25(2)(a) of the OHSA, employers must give their workers information, instruction and supervision to protect their health and safety. This may include:

  • safe-work methods specific to the workplace that target a reduction in MSD risk
  • manual materials handling techniques(for example, safe lifting, team lifting, site-specific lifting, safe pushing/pulling, etc.)
  • client or patient handling techniques and use of mechanical lifts and transfer aids
  • computer ergonomics
  • safe ways of using equipment
  • how to recognize the signs and symptoms of MSDs and the importance of early reporting
  • how to recognize and report MSD hazards
  • workstation setup and work practices that reduce MSD risk

Employers must also make sure that workers are supervised so they perform the work safely and follow the information and instruction correctly.

Communicate hazards

Under clause 25(2)(d) of the OHSA, employers must make sure that workers or a person in authority over a worker are acquainted with the hazards in their work.

It is important for supervisors to understand the hazards so they can:

  • influence the way workers perform tasks
  • make sure that workers are performing tasks in a safe manner
  • appropriately control administrative approaches like job rotation
  • make decisions that protect workers’ safety

Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances

Under clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA, employers are required to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the worker. This may include:

  • protecting workers from overexposure to MSD hazards such a force, fixed or awkward postures or repetition
  • ensuring that workers do not experience contact stress
  • ensuring that levels of hand-arm and whole body vibration experienced by workers are within acceptable ranges

Monthly inspections

Under subsections 8(6) and 9(26) of the OHSA, employers with more than 5 workers must assist and co-operate with the health and safety representative or a worker member from the joint health and safety committee (as applicable), as they inspect the physical condition of the workplace at least once a month. MSD hazards should be identified during those inspections.

Review regulations that apply

Review and comply with the regulations that protect workers from MSD hazards, including:

Visibility hazards

Learn about visibility hazards.

As an employer, to reduce visibility hazards, you must:

Keep equipment in good condition

Under clause 25(1)(b) of the OHSA, employers must make sure that the equipment, materials and protective devices they provide are maintained in good condition. For example:

  • windows that are not broken or dirty
  • mirrors that are not missing, broken or dirty
  • high-visibility safety apparel with the reflective stripes or bright colours that are not washed out or dirty

Otherwise, the operator may not be able to see a pedestrian or another hazard.

Provide information, instruction and supervision

Under clause 25(2)(a) of the OHSA, employers must give their workers information, instruction and supervision to protect their health and safety.

This includes:

  • workplace rules for the safe operation of vehicles, such as speed limits, stopping at intersections, hand and horn signals and proper placement of any load being carried
  • routes and safe work practices for pedestrians
  • attention to blind spots on vehicles and mobile equipment, for both operators and pedestrians

Employers must also make sure that workers are supervised so that operators are driving the equipment safely and pedestrians are following safe work procedures.

Communicate hazards

Under clause 25(2)(d) of the OHSA, employers must make sure that workers or a person in authority over a worker are acquainted with  the hazards in their work.

It is important for supervisors to understand the hazards so they can:

  • influence the way workers perform tasks
  • ensure that workers are performing tasks in a safe manner
  • make decisions that protect workers’ safety

Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances

Under clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA, employers are required to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. This may include:

  • developing and implementing a traffic management program
  • wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as high-visibility safety apparel
  • making sure that lighting levels are appropriate

Review regulations that apply

Review and comply with the regulations that protect workers from visibility hazards involving vehicles and mobile equipment, including:

Learn more about visibility hazards at industrial and mining workplaces.

Fall hazards

Learn more about fall hazards and ergonomics.

As an employer, to reduce fall hazards, you must:

Provide information, instruction and supervision

Under clause 25(2)(a) of the OHSA, employers must give their workers information, instruction and supervision to protect their health and safety.

This includes how to:

  • select appropriate equipment for the task (for example, step stool, ladder, or other equipment such as a scaffold)
  • safely:
    • work from a ladder
    • handle materials while on a ladder
    • climb up and down a ladder (for example, maintaining 3 point contact on a portable ladder)

Employers must also make sure that workers are supervised so they follow the information and instruction correctly.

Communicate hazards

Under clause 25(2)(d) of the OHSA, employers must make sure workers or a person in authority over a worker are acquainted with the hazards in their work.

When supervisors understand what hazards their workers are being exposed to, they can:

  • influence the way workers perform tasks
  • ensure that workers are performing tasks in a safe manner
  • make decisions that protect workers’ safety

Take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances

Under clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA, employers are required to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. This includes making sure workers:

  • maintain 3 point contact when climbing up or down a portable ladder
  • keep their belt buckle within the side rails of the ladder
  • are readily able to achieve 3 point contact when working from certain types of ladders

Learn more about ladder ergonomics with the following resources:

This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply the law based on the facts in the workplace.