Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the leading cause of lost-time injuries in Ontario’s workplaces. With the MLITSD’s upcoming blitz focused on retail, businesses have a narrow window to prepare. What lessons can be learned from last year’s campaign—and how can you avoid becoming a statistic?
The Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) recently announced that the MLITSD has identified “MSD Prevention in the Retail Sector” as the target of a 2025–2026 campaign. To help you get ready, it’s worth taking a look back at last year’s results in the health and community care sector.
What the 2023 health & community care blitz revealed
In 2023/24, the MLITSD performed a blitz in health and community care workplaces, resulting in:
- 775 field visits
- 987 orders issued
The most frequently-issued orders involved employers’ failure to:
- Take reasonable precautions for the protection of a worker [s. 25(2)(h)] — 194 orders
- Maintain equipment, materials and protective devices in good condition [s. 25(1)(b)] — 156 orders
- Provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker [s. 25(2)(a)] — 61 orders
This campaign highlighted key areas where employers need to improve:
- Assessing MSD risks and implementing changes to reduce them
- Regularly reviewing safety measures and procedures
- Training, re-training, and supervising workers on MSD risks and prevention strategies
- Providing appropriate equipment and training, such as lift equipment and carts
- Regular inspection and maintenance of equipment
- Safe handling of clients with bariatric care needs and clients who have fallen
Lessons from long-term care: Building effective training
We’ve worked with long-term care facilities for years and recognized a clear need for ergonomics training tailored to care providers. In response, we developed a modular training program, delivered by in-house staff.
To date, we’ve created 17 training modules for care providers, each featuring:
- A poster illustrating a specific ergonomic strategy (with supporting science)
- A coaching plan with an intro, demonstration, hands-on activity, and debriefing Q&A
We’re also tracking outcomes. Early pilot studies show promising improvements in task strategy awareness and end-of-day comfort scores amongst care providers who participated in 12 modules. Although the first pilot lacked enough survey responses for statistical significance, the second is currently underway.
If you’re interested in purchasing individual modules for long-term care, or launching a full program with measurable results, check out our introductory pricing here.
What retail can expect in 2025–2026
According to WSPS and MLITSD: “From April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, MLITSD ergonomists will conduct a campaign to raise awareness of hazards related to the handling and movement of materials within the retail space.”
Tasks under inspection include:
- Receiving
- Unpacking
- Storing
- Transporting
- Stocking
- Point of sale
- Customer assistance
- Delivery
All business sizes and types will be included in inspections, with a focus on MSD-related risks during material handling activities.
How ergonomists can help retail prepare
Taylor’d Ergo is developing a bundle of retail-specific training modules aligned with the MLITSD’s identified tasks. We’re currently looking for partner organizations to help create and pilot these modules.
Ideal partners:
- Can provide 3 half-days with 3–4 experienced employees, who…
- Are open to being photographed during task demonstrations and allowing us to share these photos in the developed materials
Beyond training, ergonomists provide valuable support by:
Evaluating MSD risk: Not all manual handling or repetitive tasks are high-risk. An ergonomics assessment identifies where to focus resources and where risks are low.
Developing practical solutions: From lift tables to low-cost fixes like shelf height adjustments and anti-fatigue matting, we “taylor” recommendations to your workplace.
Improving hazard controls: We help refine inspection checklists, guide JHSC hazard identification, and train management to support effective control measures.
Ready for the blitz? Let’s talk.
We’re building customized ergonomics training for retail—and we’re looking for partners. Whether you want to pilot a program or just prepare for inspections, reach out here: Carrie@TaylordErgo.com. Let’s reduce risk and protect your team—before the inspectors arrive.