Saskatchewan Manual Material Handling
This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.
The following is Copyright©2009 The Queen's Printer, Saskatchewan
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996
PART I Preliminary Matters
Interpretation
2(1) In these regulations and in all other regulations made pursuant to the Act:
(jjj) "work" and "at work" means:
(i) the time during which a worker is in the course of the worker's employment; or
(ii) the time that a self-employed person devotes to work as a selfemployed person; (kkk) "work-related area" means all places that are ancillary to a place of employment, and includes lunchrooms, restrooms, first aid rooms, lecture rooms, parking lots under the control of the employer or contractor, offices and work camp living accommodations, but does not include a permanent living accommodation.
PART III General Duties
General duties of employers
12 The duties of an employer at a place of employment include:
(a) the provision and maintenance of plant, systems of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the employer's workers;
(b) arrangements for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances in a manner that protects the health and safety of workers;
(c) the provision of any information, instruction, training and supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of workers at work; and
(d) the provision and maintenance of a safe means of entrance to and exit from the place of employment and all worksites and work-related areas in or on the place of employment. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s12.
Lifting and handling loads
78(1) An employer or contractor shall ensure, where reasonably practicable, that suitable equipment is provided and used for the handling of heavy or awkward loads.
(2) Where the use of equipment is not reasonably practicable, an employer or contractor shall take all practicable means to adapt heavy or awkward loads to facilitate lifting, holding or transporting by workers or to otherwise minimize the manual handling required.
(3) An employer or contractor shall ensure that no worker engages in the manual lifting, holding or transporting of a load that, by reason of its weight, size or shape, or by any combination of these or by reason of the frequency, speed or manner in which the load is lifted, held or transported, is likely to be injurious to the worker's health or safety.
(4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that a worker who is to engage in the lifting, holding or transporting of loads receives appropriate training in safe methods of lifting, holding or carrying of loads. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s78
Standing
79(1) Where workers are required to stand for long periods in the course of their work, an employer or contractor shall provide adequate anti-fatigue mats, footrests or other suitable devices to give relief to workers.
(2) Where wet processes are used, an employer or contractor shall ensure that reasonable drainage is maintained and that false floors, platforms, mats or other dry standing places are provided, maintained and kept clean. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s79.
Sitting
80(1) Where, in the course of their work, workers have reasonable opportunities for sitting without substantial detriment to their work, an employer or contractor shall provide and maintain for their use appropriate seating to enable the workers to sit.
(2) Where a substantial portion of any work can properly be done sitting, an employer or contractor shall provide and maintain:
(a) a seat that is suitably designed, constructed, dimensioned and supported for the worker to do the work; and
(b) where needed, a footrest that can readily and comfortably support the worker's feet. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s80.
Musculoskeletal injuries
81(1) In this section, "musculoskeletal injury" means an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, bones or supporting vasculature that may be caused or aggravated by any of the following:
(a) repetitive motions;
(b) forceful exertions;
(c) vibration;
(d) mechanical compression;
(e) sustained or awkward postures;
(f) limitations on motion or action;
(g) other ergonomic stressors.
(2) An employer or contractor, in consultation with the committee, shall regularly review the activities at the place of employment that may cause or aggravate musculoskeletal injuries.
(3) Where a risk of musculoskeletal injury is identified, an employer or contractor shall:
(a) inform each worker who may be at risk of developing musculoskeletal injury of that risk and of the signs and common symptoms of any musculoskeletal injury associated with that worker's work; and
(b) provide effective protection for each worker who may be at risk, which may include any of the following:
(i) providing equipment that is designed, constructed, positioned and maintained to reduce the harmful effects of an activity;
(ii) implementing appropriate work practices and procedures to reduce the harmful effects of an activity;
(iii) implementing work schedules that incorporate rest and recovery periods, changes in workload or other arrangements for alternating work to reduce the harmful effects of an activity.
(4) An employer or contractor shall ensure that workers who may be at risk of developing musculoskeletal injury are instructed in the safe performance of the worker's work, including the use of appropriate work practices and procedures, equipment and personal protective equipment.
(5) Where a worker has symptoms of musculoskeletal injury, an employer or contractor shall:
(a) advise the worker to consult a physician or a health care professional who is registered or licensed pursuant to an Act to practise any of the healing arts; and
(b) promptly review the activities of that worker and of other workers doing similar tasks to identify any cause of the symptoms and to take corrective measures to avoid further injuries. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s81.
Shift work and constant effort and exertion
82 Where a worker works shifts or a worker's work demands constant and uninterrupted mental effort or constant and uninterrupted physical exertion, an employer or contractor, in consultation with the committee, shall:
(a) assess the risks to the worker's health and safety of the worker's work; and
(b) inform the worker of the nature and extent of the risks mentioned in clause (a) and the ways to eliminate or reduce those risks. 4 Oct 96 cO-1.1 Reg 1 s82.