Preface 

This is the second edition of CSA Z1004, Workplace ergonomics — A management and implementation Standard. It supersedes the previous edition published in 2012 and reaffirmed in 2021. The following are the major changes to this edition: a) clarifications for user friendliness and comprehension; b) an updated Annex to reduce repeated material; c) the addition of a hand grip force tool to the screening checklist; d) the introduction of the simple filter for risk in manual handling tools; and e) alignment with CSA Z45001. This Standard sets out requirements and provides guidance for the systematic application of ergonomics to the development, design, use, management, and improvement of work systems through the implementation of ergonomics. To facilitate its use and adoption, this Standard is aligned with the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) continuous improvement model found in occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs) such as CSA Z45001. CSA Group acknowledges the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Law — Occupational Safety and Health (CAALL-OSH), including provincial and territorial governments, as well as the Government of Canada. CSA Group is solely responsible for the content of this Standard, and CSA Group and the funding bodies disclaim any liability in connection with the use of the information contained herein. This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on General Workplace Ergonomics, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Occupational Health and Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. 

Scope and objective 

1.1 Scope 

1.1.1 General 

This Standard is designed to be used alone or with related occupational or technical standards. It is intended to be referenced by other standards as the primary set of requirements for adopting ergonomics practices at the management level of an organization and throughout the activities of the organization. It is also intended to be referenced as the primary set of requirements for the implementation of ergonomics within a health and safety management system or another standalone program. 

1.1.2 Application 

This Standard specifies requirements and provides guidance for a) establishing and maintaining requirements for the effective use of ergonomics when considering all aspects of how work will be designed, performed, or changed on behalf of the organization; b) the roles and responsibilities of top management and other workers; and c) the systematic practical application of ergonomics using the PDCA cycle, which includes the development, design, use, management, improvement, decommissioning, and disposal of work systems supported by the use of ergonomics at the management level of an organization. 

1.1.3 Exclusions 

This Standard does not apply to medical management programs or to aspects that could be considered part of a medical management program (e.g., therapeutic or clinical interventions). 

1.2 Objective 

The objective of this Standard is to enable an organization to enhance worker health, safety, and well-being, and to optimize system performance through the systematic application of ergonomics. The goal is to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, and to reduce the severity of harm related to occupational activities and work. Prevention strategies proactively identify ergonomics-related hazards and eliminate them where possible. Where elimination is not possible, prevention can be achieved through appropriate risk assessment and control measures. 

1.3 Terminology 

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.