Balance Consulting Blog

Highlights of CSA Standard Z412-17;‘Office Ergonomics – An application standard for Workplace Ergonomics’

8/4/2019

Section 1 - Scope

Standard applies to ‘all office users in office workspaces’.
Workspace is defined as ‘any location where a person’s work is performed, (e.g. home offices, vehicles, and temporary locations), as well as the furniture, accessories, equipment, environmental conditions, and psychological workplace factors within these locations.

Section 4 – Ergonomic Process

The organization is to provide and maintain the infrastructure to conform to the standard.
The organization shall access persons competent to implement this Standard.
Senior management is to ensure the Ergonomic Process is established and shall document their commitment.
Workers are to provide input and participate in the process.
All employees are to be trained on ergonomic risk factors.

Section 5 – Application of Process

Hazard Assessment to identify, eliminate and reduce risk of hazards
- Assess for physical (musculoskeletal and environmental) and psychosocial hazards.
Organization shall apply ergonomics at all stages in the design of work systems and involve persons competent in ergonomics in the process.
System to evaluate furniture/equipment to be procured before bringing it into the workplace, which includes someone competent in ergonomics.

Section 6 – Ergonomic Requirements

Every employee is to be accommodated within the parameters of the specific ergonomic guidelines.
- The furniture and equipment must meet certain criteria and shall accommodate the characteristics of the user.

Annex A – Detailed Requirements

Details the specific requirements of equipment (i.e. chair, input devices, etc.).
Outlines specific training requirements.
Demands postural variation.

Recommendations for Employers In Implementing Office Ergonomics

8/2/2019

Purpose

Achieve compliance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements
Pursue compliance with CSA Standard, Z412-17 Office Ergonomics – An application standard for Workplace Ergonomics
Enhance the overall health and well-being of employees.
Minimize absences
Optimize employee performance, retention, engagement and job satisfaction.

Recommendations

Obtain leadership commitment and engagement in Office Ergonomics and Employee Wellness.

Identify hazards in the workplace.

Establish means of delivering training on office ergonomic risks and best practices;
- Self-guided modules or videos
- Group training sessions (in-house or outside)
- One on One
  - External Ergonomic Consultant
  - Internal rep who has received training on Ergonomics

**Must consider both existing staff and how to train new staff as they come on board.

Ensure that every employee is working within the ergonomic guidelines, i.e., has equipment that is suitable to their stature and is being utilized appropriately.
- For existing employees;
  - Self-assessed by the training and resources they’ve been provided
  - Internal rep who has received training in Ergonomics
  - External Ergonomic Consultant
- For new employees;
  - Should be a part of onboarding, within first day or two in position

Address any gaps in ergonomic equipment immediately.

Respond immediately, with an ergonomic consult, if any employee reports the development of work related symptoms.

Ensure an ergonomic consult has been competed for anyone returning to work from injury and refresh training to optimize successful return to work.

Ensure that an ergonomic professional is part of any process to obtain new equipment or workspaces.

Monitor and manage that employees are engaging in appropriate ergonomic practices.