What's New

CRE-MSD kicked off Global Ergonomics Month with their annual conference on Manual Handling: Where Exoskeletons Fit Within Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Prevention Strategies. Thank you to our speakers listed below for sharing their research, experiences, and professional opinions to inform us on the current state and key reflections, which contributed to an enlightening conference.
 
Dr. Maury Nussbaum, Virginia Tech
Dr. Donald Peterson, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Clark Dickerson, University of Waterloo
Seth Burt, CCPE, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
Marty Smets, Ford Motor Company
David Brodie, Cargill
Michael Hutchinson, Boeing
 
Key take aways and questions from the conference will be addressed in a resource paper to assist workplaces in the decision-making process when considering the application of exoskeletons. Do you have questions about the use of exoskeletons as an MSD prevention strategy in the workplace? Please submit your questions using the questions form by October 18, 2022.

Presenters: Amanda Calford, Dr. Taylor Cleworth, Dr. Andrew Laing & Dr. Steven Fischer

Paramedics have a high rate of occupational injuries, and lifting people from the floor contributes to this high incidence of injuries. Portable lift assist devices have the potential to decrease injuries experienced by paramedics during a lift, however, little is known about the efficacy of these devices in reducing musculoskeletal disorders when manually lifting a patient from the floor. This webinar discusses the results of research conducted at an Emergency Medical Services training facility comparing the Elk and Raizer lift assist devices to a manual technique when lifting a patient from the floor.

October 3, 2022 | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT

Mississauga, ON

Manual handling of materials and patients remains a leading cause of work-related MSD in Ontario. The use of exoskeletons as personal protective equipment is a technology advancement that is being considered across multiple industries. With many designs and brands available, exoskeletons have been marketed as a simple and effective solution to prevent MSD in the workplace. Putting the sales and marketing aside, practitioners and companies need to be aware of their strengths and limitations to determine appropriate applications and where exoskeletons fit within the hierarchy of controls.

This conference will explore the current research evaluating their use along with their potential role in the prevention of MSD. Exoskeletons, whether active or passive, have been claimed to enhance physical performance while providing a practical ergonomic strategy for the prevention of MSD. This conference will profile the scientific evaluations, industrial implementation and discuss the processes involved in deciding to implement exoskeletons, potential benefits, limitations, and impact of their adoption.

Watch the CRE-MSD events page for more details and registration coming soon!

Presenter: Dr. Peter Keir

Heavy and awkward loads often necessitate lifting in teams. Masonry is a prime example of an industry that requires team lifting under a variety of load shapes, weights, and environmental conditions. Little research exists for team lifting or the response to dropping the load. This webinar presents discussion with the masonry trade regarding concerns about awkward heavy loads, when the load is dropped by a team member, and the study that followed.