Development and evaluation of decision-support tools for the temporary reassignment of workers suffering from musculoskeletal disorders

Project IRSST

Development and evaluation of decision-support tools for the temporary reassignment of workers suffering from musculoskeletal disordersSusan Stock / Direction de santé publique de Montréal-Centre
Raymond Baril / IRSST
Marie-José Durand / Université de Sherbrooke
Michel Rossignol / Université McGill
Donald Cole / Institute for Work and Health
Richard Wells / Université de Waterloo
John Frank / Université de Toronto
André-Pierre Contandriopoulos / Université de Montréal
Jochen Moehr / Université de Victoria
Jaime Guzman / Université de Manitoba
Diane Berthelette / Université du Québec à Montréal
Claire Lapointe / IRSST
Serge Simoneau / Association sectorielle paritaire du secteur de la fabrication de produits en métal et de produits électriques

IRSST publications Scientific publications and communications

0099-0330 : Completed

A study previously carried out in the context of the interprovincial Workready project developed the portrait of the management of workers suffering from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and identified the needs of different professionals. This project led to the production of a guide, tools and a process intended to meet the needs and respond to the difficulties expressed by companies in their practices for managing the disabilities of employees suffering from MSDs.
This guide and the intervention strategy and decision-aid tools it includes are intended to address these needs and the difficulties companies encounter when providing modified work assignments to employees with MSDs. It proposes an approach to the planning and implementation of modified work programs as well as identifies specific actions companies may take to carry out effective case management and follow-up of workers with MSD.
The decision-aid tools integrated into the guide, in the form of worksheets and forms, permit the rapid recognition of workrelated risk factors for MSD. There are three series of worksheets and forms. Each series includes worksheets or forms that are specific to each of the body regions most commonly affected by these disorders, namely the back, the neck and shoulders, the elbows, and the hands and wrists.
These tools facilitate the selection of modified work tasks with physical demands that match the injured worker's physical capacities, in an effort to avoid recurrences or aggravation of the injury and to promote rehabilitation.

IRSST publications
Stock, Susan; Baril, Raymond; Dion-Hubert, Colette; Lapointe, Claire; Paquette, Sonia; Sauvage, Josée; Simoneau, Serge; Vaillancourt, Claude
Troubles musculo-squelettiques - Guide et outils pour le maintien et le retour au travail (Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders - Guide and Tools for Modified Work)
Guide OMRT-Fr, Montréal, IRSST - Montréal, Direction de la santé publique, 2005, 63 pages.

Download worksheets and forms:

Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with back pain (Print on 8½ X 14 paper)(PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with neck or shoulder problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for worker with elbow problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with hand or wrist problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Modified work proposal form for worker with back pain (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for workers with neck or shoulder problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for worker with elbow problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for workers with hand or wrist problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)

Download Temporary Work Restrictions Forms

This pdf file includes 3 forms that physicians can use to inform employers about Temporary Work Restrictions for workers with back pain, neck or shoulder disorders, and with elbow, hand or wrist disorders.(Print on 8½ X 11 paper) (PDF)

Print format is available at: Direction de santé publique de Montréal. (Order form : http://www.santepub-mtl.qc.ca/omrt/pdf/orderform.pdf

Free download More Info

Stock, Susan; Baril, Raymond; Dion-Hubert, Colette; Lapointe, Claire; Paquette, Sonia; Sauvage, Josée; Simoneau, Serge; Vaillancourt, Claude
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders - Guide and Tools for Modified Work
Guide OMRT-En, Montréal, IRSST - Montréal, Direction de la santé publique, 2005, 63 pages.

Download worksheets and forms:

Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with back pain (Print on 8½ X 14 paper)(PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with neck or shoulder problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for worker with elbow problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Worksheet to estimate physical work demands for workers with hand or wrist problems (Print on 8½ X 14 paper) (PDF)
Modified work proposal form for worker with back pain (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for workers with neck or shoulder problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for worker with elbow problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)
Modified work proposal form for workers with hand or wrist problems (Print on 8½" x 11" paper)(PDF)

Download Temporary Work Restrictions Forms

This pdf file includes 3 forms that physicians can use to inform employers about Temporary Work Restrictions for workers with back pain, neck or shoulder disorders, and with elbow, hand or wrist disorders.(Print on 8½ X 11 paper) (PDF)

Print format is available at: Direction de santé publique de Montréal. (Order form : http://www.santepub-mtl.qc.ca/omrt/pdf/orderform.pdf

Free download More Info

Stock, Susan; Deguire, Suzanne; Baril, Raymond; Durand, Marie-Josée
Travailleuses et travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques : les stratégies de prise en charge en milieu de travail dans le secteur électrique/électronique de l'Île de Montréal «Workready» Phase 1 : Volet qualitatif québébois (Workers affected by musculoskeletal disorders: management strategies in the workplace in the electrical/electronic industry on Montreal island Workready Phase 1: Québec qualitative aspect)
Rapport R-297, Montréal, IRSST / Montréal, RRSSS - Montréal-Centre, 1999, 82 pages.
Paper copy not available Free download More Info

Stock, Susan; Deguire, Suzanne; Baril, Raymond; Durand, Marie-Josée
Obstacles and Factors Facilitating Return to Work of Workers with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Summary of the Report on the Quebec Qualitative Study in the Electric and Electronic Sector of Workready Phase 1
Report R-298, Montréal, IRSST / Montréal, RRSSS - Montréal-Centre, 1999, 30 pages.
Paper copy not available Free download More Info

Scientific publications and communicationsBaril R., Clarke J., Friesen M., Stock S., Cole D., Work-ready group

Management of return-to-work programs for workers with musculoskeletal disorders : a qualitative study in three canadian provinces
Social Science and Medicine, vol. 57, no 11, 2003, p. 2101-2114.

Baril R., Stock S., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Outils d'aide à la décision pour le maintien et le retour au travail des travailleurs atteints de troubles musculo-squelettiques
in XXVIIe Congrès national de médecine et santé au travail, (27e : 4-7 juin, 2002 : Grenoble, France), Archives des maladies professionnelles et de médecine du travail, vol. 63, no 3-4, 2002, p. 302.

Dionne C. E., Bourbonnais R., Frémont P., Rossignol M., Stock S. R., Nouwen A., Larocque I., Demers E.

Determinants of «return to work in good health» among workers with back pain who consult in primary care settings: a 2-year prospective study
European Spine Journal, vol. 16, no 5, 2007, p. 641-655.

Durand M.-J., Loisel P., Poitras S., Mercier R., Stock S. R., Lemaire J.

The interrater reliability of a functional capacity evaluation: the physical work performance evaluation
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, vol. 14, no 2, 2004, p. 119-129.

Durand M. J., Lalumière A., Stock S.

Ergonomie et programmes de retour au travail pour des travailleurs et travailleuses atteint(e)s de troubles musculo-squelettique
in D'un riche passé @ un avenir prometteur : 23e Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST, (23e : 9-11 mai, 2001 : Hull, Canada), 2001.

Durand M. J., Loisel P., Poitras S., Mercier R., Stock S., Lemaire J.

The inter-rater reliability of a functional capacity evaluation: the physical work performance evaluation
in Low Back Pain and Disability: Unravelling the Puzzle, (November 30-Dec 2, 2000 : New York, NY), 2000.

Durand M. J., Lalumière A.

Les enjeux du retour au travail lors de lésion musculo-squelettique
28e congrès de l'Association canadienne d'ergonomie (28e : 3-5 octobre, 1998 : Montréal, Canada).

Frank J. W., Yassi A., Stock S., Guzman J., Clarke J., Friesen M., Cole D.

Change and growth in the development of return-to-work strategies
in Canadian Associations of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Annual Conference, (May 25 - 28, 2002 : St-John, New Brunswick), 2002.

Frank J. W., Yassi A., Stock S., Guzman J., Clarke J., Friesen M., Cole D., Baril R. Et al.

Change and growth in the development of return-to-work strategies
in AWCBC Forum: Research Solutions: Putting research to work to reduce work-related injury and disease, (November, 2001 : Toronto, Canada), 2001.

Frank J., Yassi A., Stock S., Guzmàn J., Clarke J., Friesen M., Cole D., Deguire S., Baril R. Et al.

Work-ready : return to work approaches for people with soft tissue injuries : work-ready case studies
Toronto, Institute for Work and Health and National Institute of Disability Management and Research, 2000, 37 p.

Frank J., Yassi A., Stock S., Guzmàn J., Clarke J., Friesen M., Cole D., Deguire S., Baril R. Et al.

Work-ready : return to work approaches for people with soft tissue injuries : workshop facilitator's manual
Toronto, Institute for Work and Health and National Institute of Disability Management and Research, Toronto, 27 p.

Frank J., Yassi A., Stock S., Guzmàn J., Clarke J., Friesen M., Cole D., Deguire S., Baril R. Et al.

Work-ready : return to work approaches for people with soft tissue injuries: workshop participant's booklet
Toronto, Institute for Work and Health and National Institute of Disability Management and Research, 2000, 11 p.

Frank J., Guzmàn J., Stock S., Baril R. Et al.

Facilitation of return-to-work after a soft tissue injury: synthesizing evidence and experience. A HEALNet report on the findings of the Work-Ready project
Hamilton, Ontario. HEALNet Work-Ready Research Group, 1999, 140 pages.

Guzman J., Frank J., Stock S. R., Yassi A., Loisel P., Baril R. Et al.

Stakeholder views or return to work after occupational injury
in Preventing and managing disability injury at work, Sullivan, T.; Frank, J. (eds), London, Routledge, 2003, p. 87-100.

Guzmàn J., Ward A., Franck J., Stock S., Baril R. Et al.

Facilitation of return to work after a soft tissue injury : bringing the stakeholders together. A HealNet report on the finding of the work-ready II project
Hamilton, HEALNet Work-Ready Research Group, February 2000, 62 p.

Lapointe C., Stock S. R., Baril R., Dion-Hubert C., Paquette S., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., Vaillancourt C.

Projet Outils pour le maintien et le retour au travail (OMRT) : développement d'outils destinés aux entreprises
in Colloque la santé et la sécurité du travail au Québec : Symposium "Actions de transfert en SST vers les milieux de travail: défis, étonnements, enjeux, stratégies" : Congrès de l'ACFAS (11 mai, 2005 : Chicoutimi, Canada), Réseau de recherche en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec / RRSSTQ, 2005, (http://www.rrsstq.com/stock/fra/conferences0104.pdf).

Messing K., Tissot F., Stock S.

Distal lower-extremity pain and work postures in the Quebec population
American Journal of Public Health, vol. 98, no 4, 2008, p. 705-713.

Stock S.

Prise en charge du travailleur atteint de TMS
in Les maladies reliées au travail : à l'aube des nouvelles réalités : Congrès de l'Association des infirmières et infirmiers en santé du travail du. Québec, (15-16 mai, 2006 : Boucherville, Canada), 2006.

Stock S.

La surveillance des troubles musculo-squelettiques liés au travail au Québec
Bulletin épidémiologique hebdomadaire, no 40-41, 2006, p. 319-322.

Stock S., Paquette S., Malo J. L.

Le retour au travail d'un travailleur atteint d'une lésion musculo-squelettique : Comment évaluer une proposition d'assignation temporaire?
Médecin du Québec, vol. 41, no 6, 2006, p. 107-116.

Stock S., Vézina N., Steifert A. M., Tissot F., Messing K.

Les troubles musculo-squelettiques, la détresse psychologique et les conditions de travail au Québec : relations complexes dans un monde du travail en mutation
Santé, société et solidarité, no 2, 2006, p. 45-58.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., Vaillancourt C.

Guide and tools for modified work (TMW) for workers with musculoskeletal disorders: a knowledge transfer project
in Proceedings of the 28th International Congress on Occupational Health / ICOH, (28th : June 11-16, 2006 : Milan, Italy), 2006.

Stock S., Baril R., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Malo J.-L., Paquette S., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., Vaillancourt C.

Guide and tools for modified work (TMW) for workers with musculoskeletal disorders: a knowledge transfer project
in Proceedings of the 16th World Congress of the International Ergonomics Association / IEA (16th : July 10-14, 2006 : Maastricht, Netherlands), CD-ROM, Pikaar, R.N., Koningsveld, E.A.P., Settels, P.J.M. (éds), Elsevier, 2006.

Stock S., Baril R., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Paquette S., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., Vaillancourt C.

The revised tools for modified work : research transfer to the workplace
in Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health / CARWH (May 15-17, 2005 : Vancouver, Canada), 2005.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Derfoul Z., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Paquette S., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

The "tools for modified work" project-phases 2 and 3 : implementation evaluation and revision of workplace strategies and decision aid tools
in Fifth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Workrelated Musculoskeletal Disorders PREMUS, (5th : July 11-15, 2004 : Zurich, Switzerland) 2004, volume 1, p. 277-278.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Back pain rehabilitation : workplace strategies and decision aid tools for modified work
in Proceedings of the 6th International Forum for Primary Care Research on Low Back Pain, (6th : May 22-24, 2003 : Linköping, Sweden), 2003, p. 45.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Derfoul Z., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Paquette S., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

The tools for modified work : Project - Phase 2 : implementation, evaluation and revision of workplace strategies and decision aid tools
in Fit, form and function : Proceedings of the 34th Annual Conference of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists, (34th : 15-18 octobre, 2003 : London, Ontario).

Stock S. R., Baril R., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Workplace strategies and decision aid tools for modified work
in Programme and Abstract Book of the Fourth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2001), (September 30th-October 4th, 2001, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), 2001, p. 69.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Decision aid tools for modified work for workers with musculoskeletal disorders
in Les transformations du travail, enjeux pour l'ergonomie : Actes du congrès conjoint de l'Association canadienne d'ergonomie et de la Société d'ergonomie de langue française / ACE-SELF, (3-5 octobre, 2001 : Montréal, Canada), CD-ROM, vol. 5, 2001, p. 149-152.

Stock S. R., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M.-J.

Return to work
in Programme and Abstract Book of the Fourth International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PREMUS 2001), (September 30th-October 4th, 2001, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), 2001, p. 136.

Stock S., Baril R., Chatigny C., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Workplace strategies and decision aid tools to facilitate modified work for workers with musculoskeletal disorders
in Forum on Knowledge Transfer for Workplace Health & Safety, Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada / AWCBC (November 19-20, 2001 : Toronto, Canada), 2001.

Stock S., Baril R., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Simoneau S., Sauvage J., Vaillancourt C., Shardonofski S.

Development of workplace strategies and decision aid tools for early return to work of workers with back pain
in Proceedings of the Congress Back Pain and Disability-Unraveling the Puzzle, (2000 : New York, USA), 2000, p. 181-182.

Stock S., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M. J.

Prevention of Long-term Disability: What Factors in the Workplace Facilitate or Impede Return to Work of Workers with Musculoskeletal Disorders?
in Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, (February 2000 : Seattle, USA), 2000.

Stock S., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M. J.

Les obstacles et les facteurs facilitant le maintien ou le retour au travail des travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques
in Colloque 2000 : Association des médecins en santé au travail du réseau du secteur publique / AMSTRSP, (Janvier 2000), 2000.

Stock S.

Les obstacles et les facteurs facilitant la prise en charge, par les entreprises, des travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques
in Des appuis à l'intervention préventive en milieu de travail : Colloque 2000 de l'Association des médecins en santé au travail du réseau du secteur publique / AMSTRSP), (2000 : Montréal, Canada), 2000.

Stock S., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M.-J.

Quebec Workready I: Obstacles and factors facilitating return to work of workers with musculoskeletal disorders
In Low Back Pain and Disability: Unravelling the Puzzle, (November 30-Dec 2, 2000 : New York, USA), 2000, p. 183-184.

Stock S. R., Baril R., Deguire S., Dion-Hubert C., Haffar A., Lapointe C., Sauvage J., Shardonofsky S., Simoneau S., St-Jacques Y., Vaillancourt C.

Workplace strategies and decision aid tools for modified work
in Low Back Pain and Disability: Unravelling the Puzzle, (November 30-Dec 2, 2000 : New York, NY), 2000.

Stock S., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M.-J.

L'évaluation de l'implantation des stratégies de prise en charge des travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques en milieu de travail dans le secteur électrique et électronique de l'île de Montréal
in Retombées de la recherche réseau en réadaptation au Québec : Congrès annuel de REPAR, (mai 2000, Québec, Canada), 2000.

Stock S., Baril R., Dion-Hubert C., Lapointe C., Simoneau S., Contandriopoulos A. P., Shardonofsky S., Deguire S. Et al.

Development and evaluation of decision aid tools for modified work for workers with musculoskeletal disorders
in Proceedings of Fifth Annual HealNet Conference, (5th : April 2-4, 2000 : Toronto, Canada), 2000.

Stock S. R., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M.-J.

Obstacles and factors facilitating return to work of workers with musculoskeletal disorders : summary of the report on the Québec qualitative study in the electric and electronic sector of Worready phase 1
Direction de la santé publique, Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux Montréal-Centre, 2000, 24 p.

Stock S., Deguire S., Baril R., Durand M.-J.

Travailleuses et travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques : les stratégies de prise en charge en milieu de travail dans le secteur électrique/électronique de l'île de Montréal. « Workready » Phase 1 : Volet qualitatif québécois
Direction de la santé publique, Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal-Centre, 1999, 65 p.

Stock S.

Stratégies pour la prise en charge des travailleurs atteints de lésions musculo-squelettiques. Lésions attribuables au travail répétitif et lésions musculo-squlettiques
in Colloque annuelle de l'association des infirmières et infirmiers en santé au travail du Québec, (23 avril, 1997 : Montréal, Canada), 1997.

Vachon B., Durand M. J., Loisel P., Poitras S., Stock S., Charpentier N.

Étude de sensibilité au changement de l'évaluation des capacités physiques liées au travail (ECPT): résultats préliminaires
in Retombées de la recherche réseau en réadaptation au Québec : Congrès annuel de REPAR, (mai 2000, Québec, Canada), 2000.