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S P O N S O R E D S P E C I A L F E A T U R E
MSDs A CONCERN
FOR SAFETY
PROFESSIONALS
Industry experts R&D Ergo weigh in on the dangers of not
taking ergonomic concerns seriously and the benefits of
finding the right fit
MSDs
are the top lost time at work
injury reported to the
workplace safety and insurance board
(WSIB). From 2003 to 2007, they
accounted for 2.5 million days missed
from work. These disorders account for
43 per cent of all work-related injuries
(WSPS statistics).
Most workers are faced with some kind
of musculoskeletal issue in the workplace,
from office workers who are slumped in
front of a computer all day to construction
workers lifting heavy objects.
This is where ergonomics comes in.
Although the concept has been around for
many years, it has been evolving and
accelerating in recent years. More and
more, employers are turning toward
ergonomic solutions to provide relief to
their employees.
Why invest in ergonomics?
There is a whole array of risks associated
with not taking ergonomic concerns
seriously.
One of the issues driving this push for a
keener interest in ergonomic solutions is
the median age of the workforce, says
David Gurr, account manager, R&D Ergo.
Gurr has a wealth of experience in
technical sales.
Over 25 per cent of the manufacturing
sector workforce is aged 55 and older.
From 1996 to 2018, the proportion of
workers aged 55 and older almost
doubled (Statistics Canada). Workers in
manufacturing or retail may be struggling
with lifting boxes or other manual tasks,
creating a need for ergonomic material
handling equipment.
"That is what is driving customers to
come to companies like ourselves, to find
those solutions for them," says Gurr.
As the risks of injuries in workers
increases due to demand, facility spaces
and workforce demographics, so does the
risk of medical, insurance and liability
fines. Musculoskeletal disorder (MSDs) is
one of Canada's most costly medical
conditions, estimating direct and indirect
costs in the $22-billion range, according
to the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health
and Arthritis (IMHA).
Ergonomic benefits
There are several benefits to employing
ergonomic material handling solutions.
The use of material handling
equipment such as power movers,
turntables, tuggers and lifters reduces
costs, improves productivity, improves
quality, improves employee
engagement and, most importantly,
improves safety culture. Often, heavy
Portable roll handlers eliminate the manual lift and turning of the
rolls for your operators.
