Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
12
Months
of Safety
October 2025
Ergonomics and Human Factors

Ergonomics and human factors are the scientific disciplines focused on designing and arranging environments, products, and systems to fit the capabilities and needs of people. Ergonomic design optimizes well-being, comfort, and performance by reducing physical and mental stress. By considering factors such as posture, movement, and the interaction between humans and their surroundings, ergonomics enhances efficiency, safety, and overall worker wellbeing. It's a key factor in the prevention of workplace injuries and chronic pain.

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Did you know we offer office and industrial ergonomic assessments, advice, and specialized training with a qualified ergonomist?
Ergonomics Services
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Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 10:00am (PST)
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Basic Training
Course
Available by e-LearningAvailable Virtually by Video ConferenceInstructor-Led Classroom Training
Ergonomics is concerned with the “fit” between the user, equipment and environment. Ergonomics takes into account users’ capabilities and limitations to ensure tasks, functions, information and the environment suit each user. This course provides information to managers, supervisors and employees on proper ergonomic design to prevent repetitive strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders.
Course
Available by e-Learning
Ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. This course builds on the fundamentals of Ergonomics and assists managers, supervisors, and employees in implementing a musculoskeletal injuries/disorder reduction program.
Course
Available by e-Learning
Fatigue is more than feeling tired and drowsy. Work fatigue is mental or physical exhaustion that reduces a person’s ability to work safely and effectively. This course explores fatigue-related risks in manufacturing, factors that influence fatigue, and solutions to mitigate the risks.
Videos & Webinars
Ergonomics and Human FactorsHealth and Safety Resources and Tools
If employees work from home, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure their health and safety.
Service
Ergonomic and Human Factors Assessments Industrial (plant) and office ergonomics for musculoskeletal injury prevention Ask an ergonomist! Alliance members have access to specialized safety support—including office and industrial ergonomics assessments, advice, and training.  If an uncomfortable or awkward position is required to do the job, workers are at risk of developing various musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) […]
Toolbox Talk
Ergonomics works to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI), including damage to muscles, bones or joints through designed workplaces, equipment, systems, and work. On average, MSI claims are 34% of all WorkSafeBC claims. From 2011 to 2020, that was an average of 17,891 claims per year.
Quick Reference Card
Has been present ever since human beings began interacting with the environment. Ergonomics actually emerged as a scientific discipline in the 1940s due to the technological advances of World War II
Poster tips for stretches that can be done at any workstation throughout during periodic wellness breaks to counter stiffness from static work and potentially limit risk of sprains or strains in more active jobs.
A guide to setting up your home office ergonomically.
The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC is proud to introduce the MSI Prevention Guide, a source of guidance to an organization in implementing an ergonomics program at their workplace.
A musculoskeletal injury (MSI) is an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels or related soft tissue, including a sprain, strain, and inflammation, which may be caused or aggravated by work. Well-known MSIs include sprains and strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, trigger finger, white finger diseases, and epicondylitis (tennis elbow).
News & Blog Articles
Who does this impact? WorkSafeBC has announced that in 2024, as part of their Planned Inspections Initiative, they will be focusing inspections on the following manufacturing classification units (CUs). Historically, workers in these CUs are at higher risk for serious injury....
Ergonomics goes beyond stretching programs or choosing the right chair.  It is an important strategic consideration. In the manufacturing sector, employees are especially vulnerable to developing musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) due to several factors specific to their occupations. Risk factors such...