Abigail Overduin, Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist
Ergonomics Program Lead, UBC Vancouver & Lower Mainland
ergonomics.info@ubc.ca or 604-822-9040
Health, Safety and Environment
hse.ok@ubc.ca
https://operations.ok.ubc.ca/health-and-safety/ergonomics/
UBC's ergonomics team is available for individual ergonomic assessments of your workspace. The goal of the assessment is to improve your comfort and reduce your risk of musculoskeletal injuries while working.
To request an ergonomics assessment, complete an ergonomics assessment request form to provide some background information.
Request an ergonomics assessment
About the request form:
Who can request an assessment:
Resources before requesting an ergonomics assessment:
What happens next:
Ergonomic injuries (overexertion and repetitive strain injuries) account for over 40% of the days lost from WSBC accepted time loss claims. Report an incident on the UBC Safety and Risk Services website.
Musculoskeletal injury (MSI) risk factors are regulated under sections (4.46 to 4.53) of the BC Worker’s Compensation Act which places a legal responsibility on employers to identify factors in the workplace that may expose workers to a risk of MSI, assess the risk level and implement controls to eliminate or, if that is not practical, minimize the risk of musculoskeletal injury.
The purpose of the WSBC Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements (4.46 to 4.53) requirements is to eliminate or, if that is not practicable, minimize the risk of musculoskeletal injury to workers
Section 4.49 of the WSBC Ergonomics MSI Requirements outlines risk factors that must be considered, where applicable, in the identification and assessment of the risk of musculoskeletal injury (MSI). The information below is provided to assist you with your investigation, contact UBC’s Ergonomics Team if you require additional assistance.
Find out how much is too much, and more.
Manual Material Handling (MMH) tasks contribute to a large percentage of our WSBC time loss accepted injuries at UBC. It is important that both staff and supervisor recognize MMH hazards, follow safe working procedures and implement effective ergonomic interventions that eliminate or minimize the risk and impact of MMH injuries.
Visit the ergonomics training and workshops and register online for an ergonomic, accessibibility or movement training.
Contact ergonomics.info@ubc.ca if you require additional assistance.
There are several factors that impact the risk of developing a musculoskeletal injury (MSI). Risk factors are multiplicative; for example, awkward posture combined with force substantially increases strain on the body’s musculature system compared to either factor alone.
When considering the ergonomics of a workstation we look for a layout that facilitates a comfortable (neutral) working posture; workstations that require awkward postures not only increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury they also result in reduced efficiency. Not all awkward postures result in a high risk of musculoskeletal injury or reduced efficiency; whether changes need to be made will depend on how the risk factors interact.
Consider the following questions when looking for risk factors in your environment.
Risk factors are multiplicative: bending (awkward posture) combined with heavy lifting (force) places extreme stress on the spine.
Your lifting powerzone is within mid-thigh to waist level. Heavy items should only be placed on the ground if they will be moved with a dolly and not lifted; if you will need lift a heavy item, it should be stored within your powerzone.
Determining if an item can be safely lifted depends on multiple factors; you can lift less weight overhead or from the ground as compared to at waist level; likewise, your strength capacity is less if the load is awkward or if there’s no hand hold to firmly grasp the object.
Consider the following questions when determining if an item can be safely lifted:
Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs), also known as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), are injuries that affect muscles, tendons and ligaments, nerves, blood vessels or related soft tissue. These injuries can occur from overexertion, such as when lifting a heavy box, or from repeatedly using the same muscles over and over again as is the case with Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs). Examples of MSIs include Rotator Cuff tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and low back injuries involving ligaments, muscles or spinal discs.
MSIs make up approximately 30% of WorkSafe BC injury claims at UBC.
The Occupational Health & Safety Regulations require employers to identify and assess workplace risk factors in order to eliminate or if that is not practical, minimize, the risk of MSI to workers.
Ergo webinars and training specific to office environments
DEPT specific ergo orientations are available. Each course contains five videos and each video is 5 to 10 minutes. After completing the quiz, you will receive a certificate of completion.
This joint presentation with UBC's Occupation and Preventive Health team will provide you with tips and strategies to support your health when working shiftwork.
Please contact ergonomics.info@ubc.ca to discuss options to arrange a customized or DEPT specific ergonomic workshop.
UBC’s Stay at Work/Return to Work offers employees the support they need while managing a medical impairment or disability, and provides advice for supervisors who are working with an ill or injured faculty or staff member.
Please contact your Return to Work & Accommodations Advisor (RTWAA). Your RTWAA will assist you in collecting the necessary medical information, as a note from your healthcare provider recommending a sit-stand desk is generally not sufficient on its own. Your RTWAA will also work with you and your department to determine reasonable solutions to accommodate your medical limitations and restrictions.
Please contact the Return to Work& Accommodations Advisor (RTWAA) that supports your department. The RTWAA will guide you through the process and connect you to available resources.
An individual height adjustable workstation is only one option to consider. Your department may consider other options such as incorporating movement into the job design (e.g. rotating tasks), and/or allowing individuals to take standing breaks at set intervals, and/or providing the staff or faculty member with access to a shared height-adjustable workstation.
A workplace accommodation does not necessarily result in the originally requested option. Once information about limitations and restrictions is shared, an open dialogue can begin to explore options and ideas that offer reasonable solutions. This communication should involve creativity, flexibility and may require compromise by both parties.
If you require assistance in determining which height adjustable workstation to purchase, please refer to the Ergo Purchasing guide.
Purchasing furniture and equipment, including sit-stand desks, is a department-level responsibility.
Join the Ergo Your Posture virtual sessions for a weekly movement break.
Join Athletics & Rec for a live Zoom 15-minute gentle movement break, Wednesdays at 10am.
Sessions run every Wednesday at 10am for 15 minutes. The movement break exercises were developed in conjunction with Allan McGavin Physio. Participants can keep their cameras off and adjust the movements according to their abilities.
Register to participate and the MoveU Crew will send an outlook calendar invite with the zoom link.
As we show you the exercises, participate as best you can, but keep the exercises within a comfortable range. Follow-up with your Healthcare Provider if you're not sure what is right for you.
Purchasing the right equipment and designing spaces to support healthy working postures saves money in the long-run.
The following list of furniture, equipment, and providers is not exhaustive. Furthermore, not all items listed below will be right for every individual. Differences in size, shape, work requirements, work styles and workspace will impact the overall fit. Purchasing decisions are made by the department or unit and we encourage open communication between all parties to ensure the right items are purchased. If you are unsure of what to purchase, contact the Ergonomics team. Okanagan staff and faculty can refer to the Okanagan ergonomics website for location specific information.
The purchasing guides below will provide you with equipment examples, including descriptions of special ergonomic features, as well as suggestions of where these items can be purchased from.
The goal of the HR Ergo Pilot Fund is to support the University’s effort to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) by providing one-time funding for equipment purchases or space optimization solutions that mitigate MSI risk. This fund is particularly intended for new and innovative solutions that have not been trialed before. This fund is not intended to fund office-related equipment. Please see below for more information and the application form.
Faculty, instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) can spend hours marking and lecturing over the course of a semester. The static positions and awkward postures associated with these tasks can result in musculoskeletal injury risks (e.g. upper back, shoulder and neck tension when marking; or foot, knee and back discomfort when standing to teach).
The following recommendations for marking and lecturing can help minimize discomfort and improve productivity. The UBC Ergonomics Program is continuing to work with learning spaces and faculty to develop additional recommendations; we will provide more information as it becomes available.
As a professor, instructor or teaching assistant, you can spend hours in awkward postures while marking. Taking micro-breaks and setting up your workstation to support neutral working postures can reduce the risk of discomfort and injury.
Tips:
Incorporate 1-2 minutes of stretching or micro-breaks every hour to provide position change and visual rest.
Risks:
Tips:
By establishing the following workstation reaching zones, you can reduce the occurrence of reaching and awkward postures:
How you organize your workstation can contribute to improved productivity and mental wellbeing as much as your physical wellbeing. Arrange your workstation in a manner that works for you and allows you to separate marked and unmarked assignments.
If you are working for a sustained period, we recommend using an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. Please see the office ergo webpage for additional tips.
Lecturing may require professors to stand for up to three hours at a time. There is widespread knowledge regarding the negative health effects of static sitting; however, there is also evidence that static standing can lead to undesirable consequences such as low-back and knee pain, and varicose veins. Good standing posture is important to prevent discomfort, but it alone is not enough. You should also incorporate positional change, such as intermittent walking or sitting throughout the lecture.
Tips:
Look for opportunities to incorporate positional change in your workday and make an effort to take a micro-break (30 seconds to 2 minutes) at least every hour, preferably every 30 minutes.
The body’s soft tissues require rest in order to recuperate from the effects of the static postures we exhibit. Prolonged standing can lead to negative effects such as low-back, knee and lower leg discomfort, and varicose veins.
Consider changing between sitting and standing while lecturing , or incorporate walking if sitting is not practical. Use hourly breaks as opportunities for positional change by sitting to answer students’ questions or lead a classroom stretch session.
Be aware of your body’s warning signs of discomfort. Ideally, you should stop and take a break before discomfort sets in. Micro-breaks will allow your body’s tissue tolerance to recover near baseline and allow you to maintain productivity over longer periods of time spent working.
Find your department’s office ergo representative.
Office Ergo Reps can help you with initial set-up and problem solving. View a list of Office Ergo Reps (PDF) to find a rep in your department.
Upcoming Office Ergo Rep Training: Ergo rep training is typically available in March of each year. Please email ergonomics.info@ubc.ca and we will add you to our list!
The Ergonomics program at UBC strives to have an Office Ergonomics Representative for each department. We provide the training (usually three hours) and material required for reps to promote, educate and ensure musculoskeletal health in their departments.
Office Ergo Reps are trained by the Ergonomics Coordinator in simple computer workstation set-up, signs and symptoms of injuries from poor ergonomic set-up and control strategies to reduce or prevent symptoms.
Of course, our Ergonomics Coordinator is always available to help with more complicated ergonomic issues and privacy concerns.
Email: ergonomics.info@ubc.ca
Phone: 604-822-9040
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The Respectful Environment Statement speaks to our freedoms and our responsibilities, and provides the guiding principles to support us in building an environment in which respect, civility, diversity, opportunity and inclusion are valued.
The University of British Columbia envisions a climate in which students, faculty and staff are provided with the best possible conditions for learning, researching and working, including an environment that is dedicated to excellence, equity and mutual respect. The University of British Columbia strives to realize this vision by establishing employment and educational practices that respect the dignity of individuals and make it possible for everyone to live, work and study in a positive and supportive environment, free from harmful behaviours such as bullying and harassment.
UBC’s Retaliation Policy (SC18) requires the Vice-President, Human Resources and the Vice-President, Students offices to prepare a report each year regarding complaints of retaliation, the investigation of such complaints and the actions taken following any findings of retaliation.
The following annual reports are a consolidation of reports summarized by the University per the requirements of the Retaliation Policy.