Research Project Summary

Year Funded: 2010 Budget: $37,450.00 Funding Agency: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario
Title: Adaptation of a Novel Shoulder Exposure Analysis Tool for Use by Practicing Ergonomists
Category: Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work
Subcategory: Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work
Keywords: Practical Task Evaluation; Shoulder Demands; Software Development; Training on Evaluation; Job Analysis Validation
Link to research website:

Issue:

The purpose of this project is to convert an existing novel shoulder joint musculoskeletal exposure analysis tool to a widely distributed, freely available, easy-to-use ergonomic assessment tool across Ontario workplaces. Although the current form of the tool has a firm scientific foundation, it has limited exposure to the demands of practicing ergonomists and requires biomechanics and research expertise to use.

Objectives:

The purpose of this project is to convert an existing novel shoulder joint musculoskeletal exposure analysis tool to a widely distributed, freely available ergonomic assessment tool across Ontario workplaces.

Anticipated Results:

The proposed end product will be a broadly disseminated, ergonomist-assessed, cutting-edge, validated shoulder analysis package. It will include detailed training materials, and be made available to all interested WSIB stakeholders, including practicing ergonomists, health and safety professionals, and health and safety associations and their members. This will provide an unprecedented ability to distinguish between task demands in terms of shoulder exposures, which is highly desired by ergonomics professionals. No equivalent tool exists at present, leaving ergonomists with difficult and often impossible problems when designing or modifying work.

Investigators:

Clark R. Dickerson, Jack P. Callaghan (University of Waterloo)