Bulletin
CMBC’s Musculoskeletal (MSK) Discomfort Survey Results
January 8, 2019
To: All MoveUP members at BC Transit
The survey was completed by 111 CMBC members and results demonstrate that 75% of survey takers have felt MSK discomfort while performing their jobs. Approximately half experience moderate to major headaches, eye discomfort and back pain while working. 37% have moderate to major right wrist pain while working.
The two most significant areas of MSK problems result from prolonged standing on coaches while in motion and lack of ergonomically sound work stations. Of the members who feel MSK symptoms, 40% have missed work because of the symptoms.
Some suggestions on how to improve work conditions include scheduling and alternating duties to minimize prolonged standing on moving coaches and having ergonomic assessments done for those working with computers for most of their work shifts (and getting ergonomically sound chairs).
These results highlight areas of concern at CMBC that should be reviewed, discussed, and eliminated (if that isn’t possible, then minimized) via the local OH&S Committees. One way the OH&S Committee can effect change is to give the employer a written recommendation with solutions.
If you’d like to see your local OH&S Committee take these issues forward with the goal of preventing MSK injuries, contact the Worker Co-Chair of your local OH&S Committee. Worker Co-Chairs can contact Niki Schnurr at nschnurr@moveuptogether.ca if they would like to obtain a summary of survey results to use for their OH&S Committee work or to discuss options to bring these safety issues forward.
Please see the summary attached here for more specific survey results.
In Solidarity,
Niki Schnurr, WCB Appeals Representative & OHS Coordinator
Parm Sandhar, Union Representative