Amin Yazdani, M.Sc., Nancy Theberge, Ph.D. and Richard Wells, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario; W. Patrick Neumann, Ph.D., Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto; Daniel Imbeau, Ph.D., Département de Mathématiques et de Génie Industriel, École Polytechnique de Montréal; Philip Bigelow, Ph.D., School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo; Mark Pagell, Ph.D., Smurfit Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin, Dublin; and Margo Hilbrecht, Ph.D., Canadian Index of Wellbeing, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a major cause of pain, disability and costs. Prevention of MSD at work is frequently described in terms of implementing an ergonomics program, often a participatory ergonomics (PE) program. Most other workplace injury-prevention activities take place under the umbrella of a formal or informal occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). This study assesses the similarities and differences between OHSMS and PE, as such knowledge could help improve MSD prevention activities. Using the internationally recognized Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001), 21 OHSMS elements were extracted. In order to define PE operationally, the researchers identified the 20 most frequently cited papers on PE and extracted content relevant to each of the OHSAS 18001 elements. The PE literature provided a substantial amount of detail on five elements: (i) hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls; (ii) resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority; (iii) competence, training and awareness; (iv) participation and consultation; and (v) performance measurement and monitoring. However, of the 21 OHSAS elements, the PE literature was silent on eight and provided few details on eight others. The PE literature did not speak to many elements described in OHSMS, and even when it did, the language used was often different. This may negatively affect the effectiveness and sustainability of PE initiatives within organizations. It is expected that paying attention to the approaches and language used in management-system frameworks could make prevention of MSD activities more effective and sustainable.

Scand J Work Environ Health, Volume 41, Issue 2, pages 111-123. Correspondence to: Amin Yazdani, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1; email: ayazdani@uwaterloo.ca.