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BCCSA’s growing suite of MSI-prevention tools include 11 new exercise videos

The BC ��������ion Safety Alliance (BCCSA) recently uploaded a series of 11 short videos — — to YouTube. The simple exercises, which take no more than about a minute each to complete, represent only a small part of a collection of new resources the Alliance is offering to employers in the fight against musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs).

MSIs are a serious problem for construction. WorkSafeBC recently reported that MSIs are the most common type of workplace injury, accounting for 30 per cent of all of the agency’s time-loss claims, and 26 per cent of claim costs. Between 2019 and 2023, approved WorkSafeBC time-loss claims for MSIs exceeded a staggering $2 billion, with workers in the trades identified as one of the most frequently impacted groups.

Both the BCCSA’s Prime Contractor Technical Advisory Committee and the Fire, Flood and Restoration Program Technical Advisory Committee recognized the need to address MSIs and had established subcommittees to address the issue.

“They told us that employers understand that something needs to be done, but it was difficult to find resources that could be easily used and deployed,” says Erin Linde, director, health and safety services, BCCSA. “We believe the launch of this is a good place for employers to start.”

In addition to the videos, the BCCSA’s MSI suite offers a broad catalogue of resources, ranging from 26 trade-specific hazard and control documents, to safe work practice guides, toolbox talks, and a prevention and training manual — based on WorkSafeBC ergonomics (MSI) requirements — to help employers comply and develop a framework to implement an MSI prevention program.

A certified ergonomist, Linde turned to fellow ergonomist Suzanne Jackson, a BCCSA regional safety advisor, to help develop the resources.

Jackson notes that the resources were created not only to reduce the number of MSIs, but also to get employers to shift the culture so that MSIs are not considered an acceptable outcome of construction work.

“MSI prevention needs to be a daily discussion and part of an overall risk control strategy,” she says.

The 11 range-of-motion exercise videos consist of routines designed to prepare the body for work as a warm-up, during micro-breaks taken every hour or so to balance the body after working in the same posture for long periods, or as cool-down exercises at the end of a shift. The exercises can be performed one at a time for about a minute each, or together as part of a 12-minute routine.

The videos were filmed at an actual worksite supplied by Turner ��������ion Company, using construction industry volunteers to model the exercises.

“The volunteers perform the exercises in work clothes in a standing position without any special exercise equipment, to demonstrate that they can be performed by construction workers anywhere,” Jackson says. “Incidentally, the workers at Turner actually do perform warm-up exercises at the start of every shift.”

Exercise instructions will also be demonstrated on new worksite posters, with QR codes linked to the videos. A series of new toolbox talks will support the exercise videos.

Linde notes that WorkSafeBC requires employers to conduct risk assessments for MSIs in their workplace and eliminate or minimize the risks. Employers must also educate and train workers about MSI risks in the workplace.

“WorkSafeBC isn’t prescriptive as to how you should achieve these goals,” she says. “The current suite of MSI resources is designed to support employers in meeting those requirements. We expect to see the number of BCCSA MSI resources grow considerably over the next year in support of that.”

To access the BCCSA’s MSI resources, click .

This content is an Industry Special by BCCSA in collaboration with ��������Connect™ Media. To learn more about BCCSA, visit .