Ergonomics-Related Injury Records Review Form

BENEFITS

Employers have a duty to minimize ergonomics-related injuries for two reasons. First, injuries caused by poor design, repetitive motion and excessive force or vibration—alternately called musculoskeletal, soft tissue or repetitive motion injuries—account for a high percentage of all workplace injuries. Second, the OHS laws in all Canadian jurisdictions—either expressly or implicitly—require employers to protect workers from ergonomics-related hazards. One way to identify such hazards is by reviewing records on injuries, which can help you spot trends or patterns that might have an ergonomics-related cause.

HOW TO USE THE TOOL

Use this form when reviewing records such as first aid reports or workers’ comp claims, to document information that can help you identify possible ergonomics-related hazards and then take appropriate steps to address them. When reviewing records, look for patterns or trends in ergonomics-related injuries, such as:

• Recurrence of particular kinds of injuries;
• High incidence of injuries to workers who perform similar functions or use the same tools or equipment; and
• High incidence of injuries to workers in particular locations or departments.