International RSI Awareness Day, held every year on the last day of February, is a powerful reminder: work shouldn’t hurt—and pain is not part of the job.
To support this important day and help workplaces take meaningful action, Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is offering a significant discount on all ergonomics training. Beginning on December 17, all related WHSC ergonomics courses—in person and virtual, scheduled and onsite—will be available at $40 per course, per participant. With this special pricing, each registrant can save up to $80 on courses when booked by February 28, 2026.
This is a practical way for workplaces to turn awareness into prevention.
Register for discounted Ergonomics training today
Why focus on RSIs and MSDs?
RSIs and MSDs affect muscles, tendons and nerves. Tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back strain and shoulder injuries are just a few examples. These injuries often start quietly—with minor aches, burning, tingling or stiffness—and can progress into chronic, disabling conditions that no amount of physiotherapy or surgery can fully fix.
The impact is huge. Year after year, MSDs account for about one-third of all lost-time injury claims allowed by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Many more injuries are never reported, but workers still live with the pain, lost income and reduced quality of life.
Behind every statistic is a person who may no longer be able to work comfortably, help a child into a car seat, carry groceries or enjoy life outside of work. Prevention is essential.
The good news: most MSDs can be prevented
Work shouldn’t hurt, and MSDs are not inevitable. Most of the hazards that lead to RSIs and MSDs can be identified and eliminated with proper ergonomics and better work design.
A variety of factors can play a role in the development of RSIs or MSDs including:
- Repetition and forceful movements
- Awkward or fixed postures
- Heavy or awkward loads
- Fast pace of work and insufficient recovery time
- Vibration, cold temperatures and contact stress
- Psychosocial stress and work demands
With the right knowledge and tools, workplaces can redesign tasks, adjust equipment, change work organization and reduce exposure to these hazards before workers are injured.
This is where WHSC ergonomics training makes a real difference.
What workers and workplaces gain from WHSC ergonomics training
WHSC ergonomics programs are built to help participants:
- Recognize early signs and symptoms of RSIs and MSDs
- Identify work design and work demand hazards contributing to these injuries
- Understand legal duties for employers, supervisors and others
- Develop practical prevention solutions that fit their workplace
- Use their rights and responsibilities to push for safer, healthier work
Training is made for workers, joint health and safety committee members, worker health and safety reps, worker trades committees, supervisors and employers across all sectors.
Whether you work in an office, warehouse, school, health care setting, social services, manufacturing facility or municipal workplace, with WHSC ergonomics training you’ll gain tools you can use right away.
Courses available for our special $40 limited time offer:
- Ergonomic Toolbox (3 hours, virtual or in-person)
This three-hour session gives participants practical, ready-to-use tools for spotting and solving ergonomic hazards in their own workplaces. It’s ideal for joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members, reps, supervisors and workers who want concrete strategies they can apply right away. - Ergonomics and MSDs (3 hours, virtual or in-person)
In this three-hour program, participants learn what MSDs are, how they develop and how poor work design contributes to these injuries. The focus is on helping JHSCs and others recognize, assess and control MSD risks before workers are seriously hurt. - Ergonomics in Health Care and Social Services (3 hours, virtual)
Designed specifically for health care and social service settings, this three-hour program looks at the unique ergonomic risk factors in these sectors. Participants learn how to identify hazardous tasks that cause awkward postures, force and repetition, and explore prevention strategies supported by sector-specific tools and resources. - Ergonomics: Applying Prevention Principles at Work (1 day, virtual)
This full-day program builds on Ergonomics: Basic Principles and is aimed at those taking a more hands-on role in MSD prevention. Participants dig deeper into the science and legislation behind ergonomics and practice using assessment tools to design safer work. - Ergonomics: Basic Principles (1 day, virtual or in-person)
Over a full day, participants learn how everyday job tasks can harm the musculoskeletal system, and what practical changes can prevent that harm. The program is designed to empower workers, reps and supervisors to identify MSD hazards and recommend effective ergonomic solutions. - Hand Tools (3 hours, virtual)
This three-hour program links the design and use of hand tools to common MSD injuries. Participants learn how to spot tool-related hazards, apply relevant standards and develop an action plan to reduce risk factors—an essential step anywhere hand tools are used. (Also available in French.) - Manual Material Handling (3 hours, virtual)
In this three-hour session, participants explore hazards of lifting, carrying and other manual handling tasks and review guidelines such as the NIOSH lifting equation. They leave with practical strategies for safer work design, mechanical aids and other controls to protect workers. (Also available in French.) - Patient Handling (3 hours, virtual)
This three-hour program focuses on the lifting, transferring and repositioning tasks that drive MSD rates among health care workers. Participants learn how to assess patient handling hazards, understand relevant legislation and support strong prevention policies and programs in their workplaces. - Work Organization (3 hours, virtual)
Over three hours, this program looks at how scheduling, workload, technology and pace of work affect worker health and MSD risk factors. Participants learn to recognize harmful work organisation patterns and explore practical measures—like job rotation and improved scheduling—that support healthier, safer work.
Register here:
Deeply discounted ergonomics training offer
RSI Awareness Day is one date on the calendar, but MSD hazards are present year-round. Investing in ergonomics training now helps protect workers today and prevents injuries long into the future.
Ready to take action? Register now for WHSC ergonomics training at the special rate of $40/participant for all related ergonomics courses booked by February 28, 2026.
Work shouldn’t hurt. Let’s make sure it doesn’t.
Looking for other essential health and safety training?
Explore our complete Training Catalogue for programs addressing a wide range of workplace hazards and legal duties. Contact any one of our Training Services Representatives located in communities across Ontario. Be sure to ask about preferred pricing for larger groups.
Need training in French?
We offer an extensive , including discounted ergonomics training and other key health and safety topics. For more information, contact WHSC Training Services Representative, Christopher Gervais at [email protected] or 613-407-2187.
Need more information?
Contact a WHSC training services representative in your area.
Email: [email protected]
Visit: whsc.on.ca
Need more information?
Contact a WHSC Training Services Representative in your area.
Email: [email protected]
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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