Designer
Ergonomic Design Standards
Most design decisions impact the human operators in the work system: i.e., workers. Recognizing key risk factors for MSD permits the creation of safer, more productive operations producing higher quality products and services.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has created standards describing how to systematically apply principles of ergonomics in a workplace. The standards will help "enable an organization to enhance worker health, safety, and well-being and optimize system performance to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities and/or reduce the severity of harm related to occupational activities and work environments". Refer to these standards to design ergonomic workplaces.
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Find all the available resources on the MSD prevention website, including posters, videos, and links to relevant websites.
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Our guideline selector will ask you a few questions to help determine which guideline will be the best fit for your organization. Each guideline follows the same structure, making it easy to switch between them as needed.
MSD Guidelines
Quick Start Guide: General
The guide includes a folder and posters with information on common MSD hazards and solutions to control hazards in many workplaces.
Quick Start Guide: Office
The guide includes a folder and posters that include tips for setting up computer-based workstations and best practices for MSD prevention.
Assessments
Preliminary Assessments
These tools typically contain a list of questions with either yes/no or multiple-choice style responses to note the presence or absence of an MSD hazard and some of its characteristics.
Hazard Controls
The hierarchy of controls is a system developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that ranks hazard controls from most effective (elimination) to least effective (personal protective equipment). Learn more about the Hierarchy of Controls.
Elimination
Removes the source of the MSD hazard to eliminate exposure.
Substitution
Replaces with another approach that reduces the risk of MSD.
Engineering
Modifies the design of the physical workplace to remove or block the MSD hazard from the worker by machinery, tools or equipment.
Supplementary Guideline Resources
Step 2
Facilitate and Encourage Workers’ Participation
Step 3
Plan Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Step 4
Conduct Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments
Step 9
Document Lessons Learned and Stakeholders’ Feedback
Step 10
Review Processes, Achievements, and Identify Areas for Improvement
Additional Resources
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