Collaborative research on prevention of MSDsOctober 17, 2009
DGUV Conference, Dresden, Germany
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Presentation to Stockholm University VisitorsOctober 14, 2009
University of Waterloo

In October 2009, eleven visitors from Stockholm University, Sweden, visited the University of Waterloo, the University of Toronto, York University, and the Federal Ministry of Research and Innovation. Dr. Desre Kramer gave them a presentation on stakeholder-driven research at CRE-MSD.
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Task Based Ergonomic Assessment for Non-Fixed Work
November 9, 2009
Centre for Health & Safety Innovation (CHSI), Mississauga, ON

Dr. Anne Moore delivered a presentation at the Research Exchange Series on November 9, 2009, a CHSI and CRE-MSD collaboration, on Task Based Ergonomic Assessments for Non-Fixed Work.

Work performed without a fixed work-station, containing a range of tasks that can vary daily, weekly, or monthly, otherwise known as non-fixed work, presents a challenge for ergonomic assessment. Most ergonomic assessment tools have not been validated for application to non-fixed work. This talk described a recent study comparing six commonly used ergonomic assessment tools to four perceptual scales using a task-based approach. The ability of each of the assessment tools and scales to differentiate between tasks and the correspondence of the ranking of tasks by each of the measures were studied. Data was collected with rod-workers. Rodwork is the construction trade involved in the moving, placing, and tying of steel rebar (rod) for concrete reinforcing and in which a large variety of tasks are performed in a large range of environmental conditions. The range of tasks and associated risk factors observed was discussed. The ability of the measures studied to present results in formats that have practical application to non-fixed occupations and with sufficient specificity to differentiate between tasks based on the MSD risks associated with the tasks was discussed.