Ergonomics specialist Marnie Downey likes to help correct workstations before they cause problems for employees on the job.
“We provide a two or three day course for designers, planners or process engineers who are designing workstations, equipment and assembly lines so when they design or construct, they understand the ergonomic guidelines,” says the president of Innisfil-based ERGO Inc.
“For example, the required height of the equipment so it meets the needs of the people using it.”
Ensuring the right fit between workers and their environments is the key to ergonomics, which is the science of trying to avoid workplace injuries by creating an ideal synthesis between the two.
“A lot of people associate ergonomics with computer use and carpel tunnel syndrome,” acknowledges Downey. “And we do a lot of office assessments (the company provides easy-access online office training via its website). But we do more manufacturing.”
With four certified ergonomists on staff, all with different specialties, the gamut of industry sectors are soundly covered.
Having a solid base in kinesiology (the science of human movement) from the University of Waterloo, Downey established ERGO Inc. in 1994. Soon after, she worked toward her a master’s degree in the subject, specializing in ergonomics, occupational health and biomechanics. She has since graduated.
Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomists are certified by its own self-governing college to high standards, says Downey. There are fewer than 150 CCPEs in Canada.
“I look for people to have a science degree in kinesiology and who have the capacity to become certified,” she says of new employees.
The company’s prevention work is also accomplished from a training point of view.
“Ontario has produced a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention guideline for employers to assist in implementing a prevention program in their companies,” she explains. “There are general guidelines for all sectors supported by the safety associations who helped develop them.”
Using these existing guidelines and standards, Downey teaches office workers how to properly set up their computers. She also works with joint health and safety committees to perform basic hazard identifications.
However, most companies who call aren’t looking for prevention programs immediately.
“I would say probably 80 per cent of our workload is reactive,” she considers. “The company’s having problems and are trying to avoid something.”
The Ministry of Labour, who gets injury statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board now have ergonomists among their growing ranks of inspectors. Companies with poor safety records or injury statistics exceeding the industry standard, will likely get targeted for a closer look and be ordered to have an ergonomic assessment done.
ERGO Inc. could also be called in to help easy an injured employee back to work as quickly as possibly, taking into consideration injury-related limitations and suggesting work modifications.
Occasionally a company will follow up a claim by asking if an injury could have been caused by the work being done. A job compatibility assessment provides a likely answer. Some companies have these done for all positions to keep on file with the job description to have the answers to these questions on hand.
Working internationally, ERGO Inc. also sets MSD prevention plans in place and creates the policies and procedures to go with them.
“We try to encourage our clients to incorporate it into their health and safety program,” says Downey. “It’s a lot easier to use the system already in place.”
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