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Ontario's Union for fairness, equality and respect at work.

Archived News

Of Note: This news item is archived content from UFCW Canada Local 1000A.
Local 1000A and UFCW Canada Local 206 merged on May 1, 2016 to form UFCW Canada Local 1006A.

Feb 28: Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

RSIOn February 28, join your union, UFCW Canada Local 1000A, in raising awareness about International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Day.

Also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), RSIs are the most common form of workplace injuries and describe injuries that affect the body’s muscles, joints, nerves, and tendons. Some common RSIs include tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre reports that 2.3 million Canadian adults are annually affected by RSIs or MSDs, with the majority of cases being work-related. The social and economic costs of such cases exceed $26 billion annually.

The Centre states:

“Occupational injuries to muscles, nerves and tendons may not be life-ending, but they can certainly be life-altering. They can change everything. They can rob workers of their mobility and their dignity. Workers are often left unable to care for themselves or those they love.”

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety reports: 

"[Work-related musculoskeletal disorders] can be caused by work activities that are frequent and repetitive, or activities with awkward postures, including fixed or constrained body positions; continual repetition of movements; force concentrated on small parts of the body, such as the hand or wrist or a pace of work that does not allow enough rest between movements. Heat, cold and vibration may also contribute to the development of WMSDs."

For more information on prevention, check out the MSD Prevention Toolbox: PART A, PART B, PART C. The document was co-developed by UFCW Canada, other stakeholders, and the Ontario Ministry of Labour.

Additional Resources

Workers Health & Safety Centre 
Ontario Ministry of Labour
UFCW Canada Poster