Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

- To ensure compliance and enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and all related regulations with an emphasis on enforcement of ergonomic-related hazards.
- To anticipate, identify, and assess ergonomic-related hazards and recommend control measures in all types provincially regulated workplaces.
- To provide professional ergonomic advice and consultation to the Ministry and officials in industry, government and other agencies regarding a variety of ergonomic-related hazards.
- To participate in the development of occupational health and safety standards, guidelines and codes.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. In accordance with long and short-term program goals and objectives and administrative direction, as set by management under an individual work plan, determine potential sources of occupational ergonomic-related hazards in Ontario workplaces by performing such tasks as:
- conducting inspections/investigations to determine compliance with legislated standards, best practices and guidelines; performing workplace visits as requested by the manager, Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Ministry inspectors, hygienists and engineers, officials in industry, union officials,
individual workers, health and safety professionals, or in response to statistics provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) or the Ministry indicating employers with high levels of injury, especially in cases requiring further scientific investigation;
- visiting all types of provincially regulated workplaces, to conduct inspections, investigations or consultations, by meeting or talking with union/management officials, employees, industrial nurses, reviewing records, touring the work sites, etc,;
- collecting scientific data of an ergonomic nature on force requirements, lighting conditions, task frequency, equipment configuration, design and sight lines, vibration, heat, cold, employee reach and strength requirements, etc. by utilizing a variety of techniques such as postural analysis, taking direct
measurements (e.g. distance, force, lighting), personal observation, recording the work flow and describing the work station, etc.;
- analyzing the data on how the job is performed based on identified hazards, measurements taken, types of injuries incurred, referring to medical/scientific literature, charts and tables and using specialized computer programs in order to provide an interpretation of the findings;
- evaluating and interpreting the results of the analysis;
- preparing a report for the workplace, Ministry inspectors, and/or the manager, determining the nature and extent of ergonomic-related hazards in accordance with acceptable levels of exposure as set out in Ministry legislation and regulations or other accepted guidelines (e.g. CSA standards) or standard ergonomic practices, providing advice and making recommendations as to control measures to reduce the risk of injury or eliminate occupational ergonomic-related hazards that is supported by scientific research;
- identifying acceptable levels of exposure/physical demands, providing reference materials, if required, and/or identifying contraventions of all pertinent legislation and issuing orders imposing a time-based compliance or stop work order, and issuing requirements; initiating follow-up field visits to
determine adequacy of compliance with previous orders; prosecuting when required
- investigating complaints, work refusals, accidents and fatalities, in cases involving ergonomic-related hazards in order to provide expert scientific and technical analysis and advice;
- consulting with the Provincial Ergonomist where recommendations, or a particular work site are contentious or when an analysis is technically challenging;
- preparing technical reports for use as reference materials for industry, other Ergonomists, or the Ministry on conditions found in work sites, based on audit visits and research;
- providing testimony at legal proceedings, acting as an expert witness where the Ministry has prosecuted a particular employer or at a Coroner's Inquest, on conditions in the workplace audit report and recommendations made;
- audit externally provided ergonomic reports for acceptable industry standard practices.
2. Provides advice, consultation and instruction on a variety of ergonomic-related hazards to professional groups, Health and Safety Committees, Ministry inspectors, hygienists and engineers, senior industry officials, colleagues, and associates by performing such duties as:
- explaining the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, outlining guidelines, accepted practices and legislated standards, recommending measures to meet legislated standards to ensure maximum worker protection;
- promoting the Internal Responsibility System, developing and maintaining relationships with workers and their representatives, and employers and their representatives
- conducting ergonomic evaluations of hazardous working conditions, recommending corrective action such as changes to work tasks, equipment, work stations and work practices, etc.;
- making presentations to Ministry inspectors, hygienists, engineers, organized labour, associations, employer groups, etc. as requested;
- recommending additions, revisions and changes to Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in conjunction with the Provincial Ergonomist, based upon research findings, to maintain a high level of health and safety in Ontario workplaces;
- contributing to the development and preparation of Occupational Health and Safety standards, the development of regulations, codes and operating policies as a Ministry representative on standards committees in conjunction with other divisions, branches, safety-associated professionals, etc ..
- conducting peer reviews of other Ministry ergonomists field visit or professional reports
- as assigned, providing orientation training and guidance to newly hired ergonomists, periodically reviewing their reports, ensuring trainees understand office/service procedures;
- as assigned, provide ergonomic training to newly hired inspectors, engineers, and hygienists and provide ongoing ergonomic training to inspectors, engineers and hygienists.
3. Performs other related duties such as:
- reviewing current ergonomic literature to keep abreast of current developments, advances and practices in the field of Ergonomics;
- attending courses, seminars and conferences on related matters;
- training students as required;
- as assigned.

Staffing and Licencing :

- Valid driver's license (Ontario Class G)
- Certification from the Canadian College for the Certification of Professional Ergonomists (CCCPE), Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics, (BCPE) , or equivalent.

Knowledge :

Work requires advanced knowledge, understanding and training in the subspecialties of ergonomics such as kinesiology, human kinetics, physiology, biomechanics, psychology and/or equivalent experience in Occupational Ergonomics.
- Job requires advanced knowledge, understanding and training in ergonomic analysis techniques and tools, including specialized computer programs.
- Job requires knowledge of related occupational ergonomic research, observation and investigative techniques to carry out inspections and investigations at workplaces, interview worker and employer representatives, and gather all relevant information and evidence.
- Job requires knowledge of trends, new developments, hazards, research, standards and analytical techniques in the field of occupational ergonomics in order to identify and evaluate ergonomic-related hazards and make recommendations.
- Detailed knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations, MOL policies, standards and practices to inspect, investigate, audit, assess, write orders, issue requirements and make recommendations, advise inspectors, hygienists, engineers, employers, unions, employees and
other occupational health and safety professionals, and respond authoritatively to general and specific complaints and enquiries.
- Job requires knowledge of Ministry and Government business plans to develop local partnerships with external stakeholders (e.g. Health and Safety Associations, WSIB).
- The position requires knowledge of the activities of client groups in order to understand their concerns on ergonomics issues, and must have some sensitivity to labour/management relations in the work site, of any given audit.
- Job requires knowledge of court/inquest procedures, processes and practices to submit information for legal action and appear in court/at inquests as an expert witness.
- Job requires knowledge of personal computers, related software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets) and ergonomic analysis programs in order to develop data from investigations and inspections, and perform ergonomic analyses.
- Job requires knowledge of computer information technology, ministry computer databases and related software packages to use sector and work planning systems, input/access information data systems, (e.g. Inspection Compliance + Enforcement program) and prepare documents, ensuring adherence to ministry quality assurance and quality control programs

Skills :

- Ability to identify and evaluate ergonomic-related hazards and occupational health and safety hazards.
- Ability to determine specifics of complaints or enquiries received over the telephone, in person or in writing to identify issues and provide responses and recommendations.
- Ability to establish productive working relations with labour/management groups.
- Must have keen powers of observation, analytical abilities and attention to detail, combined with investigative techniques to conduct field audits in a wide variety of workplaces, some of which may be hostile or hazardous.
- Ability to work under minimal supervision and make recommendations in situations where a great deal of ambiguity exists.
- Ability to work under high stress situations (e.g. investigating a fatality)
- Good research, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills and ability to prepare technical ergonomic reports.
- Good verbal communication and interpersonal skills and ability to act as an expert witness.
- Good dispute/conflict resolution skills to resolve issues and disputes between labour and management in highly confrontational or adversarial situations.
- Job requires coaching and/or providing technical guidance to other employees

Freedom of Action :

- Job requires working with relevant provincial statutes and regulations related to occupational health and safety, and within related codes and standards for occupational ergonomics, current scientific knowledge and thinking of impacts of various ergonomic-related hazards on occupational health and safety, working within the context of ministry and division business plans, administrative and program policies and procedures.
- Job requires conducting on-site investigations and inspections to determine compliance with legislation by interpreting intent of legislation, regulations, standards and ministry policies, identify impacts of conditions and practices, and deciding whether or not to issue or rescind an order, recommend legal
actions and what recommendations and conclusions to present.
- Job requires making authoritative recommendations to the Ministry, inspectors, engineers, hygienists, management, employees and other occupational health and safety professionals.
- Job requires providing advice, interpretation and information in response to enquiries and complaints of a general and specific nature.
- Job requires coordinating own workload with other ministry staff based targets and priorities, formulating enforcement strategies within Ministry business and operational plans, referring complex and unusual issues to the Provincial Ergonomist.
- Job requires working under minimal supervision and making conclusions and recommendations in situations where a great deal of ambiguity exists.
- Frequent travel to workplaces within an assigned geographical area.
- Travel and work after hours may be required.