Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Overview

1. Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders Overview

2. Vision and Mission • Vision:Bringing 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 • Mission:To develop, throughbasic and applied research, the foundations for effective prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and disability

3. The Goals of the Centre are: • The identification of mechanisms of development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders • The development, implementation and evaluation of workplace strategies to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders and disability

4. Centre Strategic Directions 1.0 Increase research capacity in OH&S in Ontario through recruitment of researchers 2.0 Develop a coordinated, coherent, province-wide programs of world-class OH&S research 3.0 Build relationships with workplace partners 4.0 Improve research-based knowledge transfer and utilization 5.0 Put in place Centre infrastructure, staff, organization and strategic planning process

5. Core Centre Researchers Jim Potvin Howard Green Anne Moore INSTITUTE FOR WORK & HEALTH INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE SUR LE TRAVAIL ET LA SANTÉ Emile Tompa Don Ranney Syed Naqvi Jack Callaghan Peter Keir Ted Haines Mickey Kerr Nancy Theberge Donald Cole Stuart McGill Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. Mardy Frazer Dee Kramer Richard Wells

6. Advisory Committee • Marianne Levitsky, WSIB • Linda Kelly, WSIB • Elizabeth Mills, Ontario Service Safety Alliance • Ted Vandevis, Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (EUSA) • Keith McMillan, CEP • Cam Sherk, UFCW • Michelle Morrissey-O'Ryan, Hydro One Networks Inc. • Sherri Helmka, Employers' Advocacy Council • John Vander Doelen, Ministry of Labour • Catherine Fenech, Injured Workers • Jonathan Tyson, Association of Canadian Ergonomists (PPHSA)

7. Centre Research Program.

8. Evaluation and Sustainability of Interventions UNITE Maintenance Richard Wells, Mardy Fraser Donald Cole Syed Naqvi et al Richard Wells Syed Naqvi Cell Changes with Muscle Pain Work Relatedness of Dupuytren’s Contractures Job Rotation WSIB RAC CRE- PREMUS Howie Green, Don Ranney, Russ Tupling Workplaces Richard Wells et al Ted Haynes Richard Wells et al UNITE! OHCOW CRE- PREMUS + WSIB-RAC Participative Ergonomics WSIB RAC Proposed WSIB RAC TransformationalLeadership Clinicians Clinicians Workplaces Donald Cole Syed Naqvi Donald Cole Dee Kramer Emile Tompa Shoulder Strength in Older Workers CRE- PREMUS (Seed) Evaluation Tools For JHSC Gender and Participation CRE- PREMUS (Seed) for CIHR OHCOW/CAW Mardy Frazer Ceiling Lift Evaluation Syed Naqvi Participative Ergonomics OSSA WSIB RAC Nancy Theberge Donald Cole Anne-Sylvia Brooker CRE- PREMUS (Seed) Cam Mustard, Mickey Kerr, Mardy Frazer, Geoff Fernie Donald Cole Richard Wells Workplaces OHCOW CRE- PREMUS (Seed) CRE- PREMUS (Seed) Ministry of Health IAPA Workplaces MoH, HCHSA

9. CRE-MSD Seed Grant Program Research Assistantships and Grants of maximum $10 000 Factors important in awarding funding included: • Satisfying internal peer review process • Proposal within CRE-MSD mandate • A clear research question and methodology • Evidence of interaction with workplace parties in the development and execution of the study • A willingness to share the results with workplace parties during and upon project completion • In-kind contributions of partners

10. Example Seed Grant • DWAYNE VAN EERD, Donald Cole, Richard Wells, Sue Ferrier, Emile Tompa, Nancy Theberge. Evaluating a partner-based participatory intervention for musculoskeletal disorders in a medium-sized workplace. • Major community partner: Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA). • The proposed pilot project will test a process of recruitment, data collection, sharing of information and evaluation in conjunction with consultants from the Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) in one medium-sized workplace. The study outcomes are better understanding of ergonomic consulting and approaches to evaluation with medium sized businesses.

11. Workshop on Job Rotation www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca

12. Job Rotation Workshop • A workshop on job rotation was held on December 7, 2004 at the University of Waterloo and was attended by a wide range of workplace parties including managers, supervisors, JHSC representatives, consultants from the health and safety associations, ergonomists, kinesiologists, and researchers in the field of OH&S. • Further material from this workshop can be found at www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca

13. Rotation Key Messages What is job rotation?: • Similar to job enlargement • Should be secondary to engineering solutions • Has psychosocial and physical benefits • Has psychosocial and physical negative features

14. Rotation Key Messages Success factors for job rotation: • Doesn’t work if you mix high risk jobs with low risk jobs • Doesn’t work well if your team has very different physical capabilities • Doesn’t work well for reintroduction of injured workers • Doesn’t work well if jobs are too similar • Needs a good overall safety climate

15. Summary The Centre collaborates with workplace parties and practitioners to: • Determine relevant research questions • Include them in the research process • Disseminate and use research findings

16. The Centre of Research Expertise for thePrevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders receives substantial funding through a grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario www.cre-msd.uwaterloo.ca