Ergonomics in the Transportation Sector

April 12th 2007

Co-hosted by THSAO and CRE-MSD

CRE-MSD or the

Center of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders bridges between researchers and workplaces

Musculoskeletal disorders are painful or disabling injuries to the muscles, tendons or nerves in the lower back, shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists or hands. They are aggravated or caused by overexertion and overuse at work.

The CRE-MSD research team has expertise in ergonomics, bioengineering, spine biomechanics, kinesiology, evaluation, occupational medicine, epidemiology, sociology, and education.

CRE-MSD is made up of a virtual network of twenty-two researchers across seven universities, the Institute for Work & Health and the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.

MSDs or musculoskeletal disorders are a blanket term for a range of conditions that create pain and disability of the low back, shoulder, neck, lower limbs and hand/ wrist

CRE-MSD Vision:

To bring together researchers and workplace parties to identify the key questions, find the best research answers, and pass on the best knowledge that will lead to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders at work.

Conference Objectives

• Synthesizing what is already known about MSD-prevention in transportation

• Collecting sector knowledge to feed into the sector-wide research study.

MSDs or musculoskeletal disorders are also known as “pains and strains”, “Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)”, “Overexertion or Strains”, “Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI or MSK)” and are found in all countries

The transportation sector has a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders, with 5,218 MSDs claims accepted in 2003 in Ontario

Commercial trucking in Ontario creates employment for 200,000 workers, which is 4.8% of the Ontario workforce.

The trucking sector has a high injury rate and MSDs from approximately 60 to 69% of these (calculated from 2004 data)

THSAO Vision:Our vision is to eliminate human suffering that

we believe is socially, morally and economically unjust so that we move toward the prevention of all workplace injuries and illnesses.

The transportation sector has the highest lost time injuries per 100 Full Time Employees of any sector

Researchers at CRE-MSD join with workplace parties to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and disabilities by utilizing knowledge developed from basic research and workplace studies

CRE-MSD organizes workshops on the prevention of MSDs

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).

www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca

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

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

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

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

For more information please contact: Darlene Garside dgarside@uwaterloo.caCRE-PREMUS, 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

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

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

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

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

For more information please contact: Darlene Garside dgarside@uwaterloo.caCRE-PREMUS, 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

The Centre receives substantial funding through a grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

We would like to sincerely thank all of the people and organizations that have helped us arrange this conference.