2.4 Ergonomics in Food Service

How can we prevent WMSDs?

Hazards are best eliminated at the source; this approach is a fundamental principle of occupational health and safety. In the case of WMSDs, the prime source of hazard is the repetitiveness of work. Other components of work, such as the applied force, fixed body positions, and the pace of work, are also contributing factors. Therefore, the main effort to protect workers from WMSDs should focus on avoiding repetitive patterns of work through job design, which may include mechanization, job rotation, job enlargement and enrichment, or teamwork. Where elimination of the repetitive patterns of work is not possible or practical, prevention strategies involving workplace layout, tool and equipment design, and work practices should be considered.

Job Design

  Mechanization

One way to eliminate repetitive tasks is to mechanize the job. Where mechanization is not feasible or appropriate, other alternatives are available.

  Job Rotation

Job rotation is one possible approach. It requires workers to move between different tasks at fixed or irregular periods of time. But it must be a rotation where workers do something completely different. Different tasks must engage different muscle groups in order to allow recovery for those already strained.

However, job rotation alone will not be effective in reducing WMSDs if it is not combined with the proper design of workstations. It will also not be effective while the high pace of work persists.

  Job Enlargement and Enrichment

Another approach is job enlargement. This option increases the variety of tasks built into the job. It breaks the monotony of the job and avoids overloading one part of the body. Job enrichment involves more autonomy and control for the worker (e.g., when to take a break or change tasks).

  Team Work

Teamwork can provide greater variety and more evenly distributed muscular work. The whole team is involved in the planning and allocation of the work. Each team member carries out a set of operations to complete the whole product, allowing the worker to alternate between tasks, hence reducing the risk of WMSDs.

Workplace Design

The guiding principle in workplace design is to fit the workplace to the worker. Evaluation of the workplace can identify the source or sources of WMSD. Proper design of the workstation decreases the effort required of the worker to maintain a working position. Ideally, the workstation should be fully adjustable, providing a worker with options to work in standing, sitting, or sitting-standing positions, and fitting the worker’s body size and shape. Detailed information about proper workplace design can be found in the OSH Answers documents Working in a Standing Position and Working in a Sitting Position.

  Tools and Equipment Design

Proper design of tools and equipment significantly decreases the force needed to complete the task.

Providing the worker with the proper jigs or fixtures for tasks that require holding elements saves a lot of muscular effort in awkward positions.

Good tools, maintained carefully and, where necessary, frequently changed, can also save a lot of muscle strain. More information about hand tools and preventing WMSD resulting from their use can be found in the OSH Answers document Hand Tool Ergonomics.

  Work Practices

A well-designed job, supported by a well-designed workplace and proper tools, allows the worker to avoid unnecessary motion of the neck, shoulders, and upper limbs. However, the actual performance of the tasks depends on individuals.

Training should be provided for workers who are involved in jobs that include repetitive tasks. Workers must know how to adjust workstations to fit the tasks and their needs. Training should also emphasize the importance of rest periods and teach how to take advantage of short periods of time between tasks to relax the muscles, and how to control muscle tension throughout the whole work shift consciously.

Increased communication and support, together with an increased ability of the worker to control their job (where possible), are work practices that improve worker satisfaction and have a positive impact on reducing the risk of WMSDs.

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html, OSH Answers, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), May 17, 2024. Reproduced with the permission of CCOHS, 2025.