Many people, including ACE members, use the words “ergonomic” and “ergonomics” almost interchangeably. This is happening on websites, in presentations and even in scientific papers. As the Voice of Ergonomics in Canada, it is important that we use these words correctly.

In the example above, “ergonomics consultant” is the correct term [i.e. someone who consults in the field of ergonomics]. The word “ergonomic” implies a better fit with a human. The consultant herself is not ergonomic; the equipment she recommends is.

Ergonomics and usability

The words “ergonomic” and “ergonomics” look similar, so it is easy to mix them up. Here’s a tip to help make the right choice. The word pair “usable/usability” is rarely mixed up and similar in meaning to “ergonomic/ergonomics”. If “usability” makes more sense in what you are trying to say, “ergonomics” is the word you need.

Though we would like everything to be usable/ergonomic, what we are most likely talking about are:

usability/ergonomics reports

usability/ergonomics guidelines

usability/ergonomics standards

usability/ergonomics programs

usability/ergonomics assessments

When is it appropriate to use the word “ergonomic”?

“Ergonomic” can correctly be used if the thing being described truly is ergonomic. For example, if a chair fits the user, it can be called an ergonomic chair.

In some cases, either “ergonomic” or “ergonomics” could be the correct word, but the resultant terms will have quite different meanings.

An ergonomic/usable process is not the same thing as an ergonomics/usability process.

An ergonomic tool could be a wrench, keyboard, etc. An ergonomics tool is something used to complete an ergonomics analysis [e.g. NIOSH lifting equation, Liberty Mutual Tables]

Internet search engines

As mentioned previously, the misuse of these words is widespread. Consequently, a customer searching for an “ergonomic consultant” might not find you, if you are using the correct term in your marketing materials. Fortunately, there is a fix for this.

Terms like “ergonomic consultant” and “ergonomic assessment” are technically wrong but it is ok to include them in your website’s keyword list. This list can be found by internet search engines but is invisible to your website visitors. To learn more about techniques like this, do an internet search for “Help internet search engines find your website with keywords”.

Here is an example:

Adding keywords for SEO” by SquareSpace

How you can help

Please review your materials for the use of the words “ergonomics” and “ergonomic” and make corrections as appropriate. We might not be able to change the world, but as the Voice of Ergonomics in Canada it is important that we set a good example.

Revised 2019.11.08

The Centre of Research Expertise for Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) has developed a new prevention guideline for the province launched October 2019.  The MSD Prevention Guideline is divided into three sections:

• Quick Start guideline for small and micro businesses
• Basic guideline for medium-sized organizations
• Comprehensive guideline for large organizations

All three guidelines are available at www.msdprevention.com

The website includes an introductory video, newly developed hazard identification and control approaches, graphics and downloadable templates and documents.  Get resources to control workplace hazards. The new musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) Prevention Guideline has a user-friendly website tool that helps identify controls for workplace hazards. 

Hazards & controls picker  

Prevention guideline

Do sit-stand workstations improve cardiovascular health?

Aging and MSD: Strategies for older workers

Factors affecting operator exposure to whole-body vibration

Fitting ergonomics to the engineers

Glove selection to minimize effort and MSD risk

How do we measure neuromuscular fatigue at the workplace? 

The Toronto CRE-MSD   workshop

MSD prevention for the paramedic sector

Observation-based posture assessment practices

The use of stability balls in the workplace in place of the standard office chair

There is no such thing as “non-specific back pain”

Whole-body vibration: Overview of standards used to determine health risks

Local and national governments around the world are considering proposals to eliminate the time change in favour of permanent Daylight-Saving Time (DST) or Standard Time. Earlier this year, the BC government invited the public to share their views in a poll but provided no option to vote for permanent Standard Time. Yet, experts in biological rhythms and sleep unanimously agree that Standard Time year-round is the best option for public health and safety (see attached position papers from various biological rhythms societies as well as a list of references to scientific articles).

An Open Letter to the BC Government in Support of Permanent Standard Time - 

Local and national governments around the world are considering proposals to eliminate the time change in favour of permanent Daylight-Saving Time (DST) or Standard Time. Earlier this year, the BC government invited the public to share their views in a poll but provided no option to vote for permanent Standard Time. Yet, experts in biological rhythms and sleep unanimously agree that Standard Time year-round is the best option for public health and safety (see attached position papers from various biological rhythms societies as well as a list of references to scientific articles).

Support of Permanent Standard Time

SRBR POSITION PAPER - 

Less than 200 years ago, humans organized their daily routines by the sun clock (set by the rotation of Earth), which was in synchrony with their body clock (set by our individual biological clock). Now, most of us live in cities, work mostly in buildings,use electric light at night, and organize our daily lives by a social clock (set by human societies) that

is rarely in synch with the sun clock or the body clock. These new conditions challenge our health and can cause safety problems; these challenges become even worse under Daylight Saving Time (DST). In this article, we describe how the 3 clocks came to drift apart and how that can create problems.Less than 200 years ago, humans organized their daily routines by the sun clock (set by the rotation of Earth), which was in synchrony with their body clock (set by our individual biological clock). Now, most of us live in cities, work mostly in buildings,use electric light at night, and organize our daily lives by a social clock (set by human societies) that is rarely in synch with the sun clock or the body clock. These new conditions challenge our health

and can cause safety problems; these challenges become even worse under Daylight Saving Time (DST). In this article, we describe how the 3 clocks came to drift apart and how that can create problems.

This document was originally prepared by the Ontario Region of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists/Association canadienne d’ergonomie (ACE). It was meant to be one of a series of Professional Practice Guidelines to be produced by ACE. It was updated in 2018 by Drs Village and Black.

This document has been prepared to provide professional guidance for the preparation and writing of reports based on physical ergonomics analysis.       

Until recently, compensation and OHS enforcement jurisdictions across Canada have been describing or defining work related Musculoskeletal Disorders differently from one another based on their different uses of the coding system that workers’ compensation Boards and Commissions in Canada use to classify injuries.   This article describes how a more consistent MSD code mapping can be uses by researchers, OHS enforcement groups and any other parties interested in using coding information to identify MSDs across Canada.  (2018)