Monthly news and research findings from the Institute for Work & Health

IWH News

October
2016

Celebrating Global Ergonomics Month


New video, newsletter available on workplace interventions to prevent upper extremity MSDs


October is Global Ergonomics Month—a time to raise awareness about strategies to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). At the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), researchers have recently updated a systematic review on ways workplaces can help prevent and manage MSD symptoms and injuries in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Want the top takeaway messages? They’re in our new video card. Watch it and share! Also, download our latest Sharing Best Evidence, a more-detailed, plain-language summary of the review’s key findings.


Watch the video and download the newsletter

Participatory ergonomics team drives down injury rates at Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro: case study


Workplace programs to tackle MSDs are more effective if a cross-section of workers is involved. It’s an approach called participatory ergonomics. One Ontario hydro company embraced participatory ergonomics when it took part in a joint IWH study 10 years ago. It has continued to see a reduction in soft-tissue injuries ever since.


Read the case study

Webinar to demonstrate online ergonomics tools available from OHCOW and IWH


Also part of our offerings for Global Ergonomics Month, IWH teams up with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) to bring you a free webinar on Thursday, October 27. The presentation features ergonomic tools for safe and healthier workplaces. See a demo of OHCOW’s “ergotools,” a set of six web applications. Also, learn about IWH’s eOfficeErgo, an e-learning program about healthy ways to set up and use computer workstations.


Register now

PREMUS abstracts review latest research on causes and prevention of work-related MSDs


Ever need to find research on work-related MSDs? The PREMUS2016 book of abstracts reads like a compendium of the latest findings from around the world on the subject. Does job rotation work? What’s the link between texting and shoulder numbness and pain? How does one measure the risks involved in pushing and pulling? Can safe patient handling programs reduce lifting injuries in hospitals? Download the book for a thumbnail of the research that addresses these and many other questions.


Download the abstracts book

Research presentation explores ways to reduce vibration exposure


Whole-body vibration is a significant health risk for four to seven per cent of the workforce, primarily operators of heavy mobile vehicles. Negative health outcomes include lower-back pain, spinal degeneration, gastro-intestinal tract problems, among others. In an IWH plenary on Tuesday, October 25, Western University’s Dr. Jim Dickey will talk about ways to assess seating to reduce vibration exposures.


Get more information here

Reminder: Fellowship deadline and research skills workshops coming up


Calling students and new researchers, we’re still accepting applications for the Mustard Post-Doctoral Fellowship. If you’re interested in an opportunity to do research on work and health, please submit your applications by Friday, November 18. Also, a few spaces are still available for the systematic review workshop on November 28-30 and the meta-analysis workshop on December 1-2.


Learn more about the Fellowship and workshops

For more information, please contact


Cindy Moser
Communications Manager
416-927-2027, ext. 2183
cmoser@iwh.on.ca

Uyen Vu
Communications Associate
613-979-7742
uvu@iwh.on.ca

IWH News is distributed monthly by the Institute for Work & Health, an independent, not-for-profit organization that conducts and shares research to protect and improve the health and safety of working people.


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