Prevention and Health Promotion's 2024 interventions

This past year, the Prevention and Health Promotion team has worked hard to create a safer, healthier and more efficient work environment for MUHC staff. Through a series of interventions, they have addressed common workplace challenges with thoughtful solutions. Below are four key interventions from 2024 and some photos of these improvements in action. 

1. Height adjustable desks at the Montreal General Hospital and de Maisonneuve call centres 
Height adjustable desks were installed at the MGH and de Maisonneuve call centres. Agents now have the option to position the desk at their appropriate elbow height and alternate between sitting and standing throughout their workday. Movement between sitting and standing can improve comfort, promote better posture and increase energy levels. This change has created a more flexible and adapted workspace for all call centre employees. 

2.  Installation of ramps and tables at the laundry chutes of the Montreal General Hospital and the Glen site 

Dirty linen bags from the nursing units and departments used to come down the laundry chutes and fall directly onto the floor. Laundry attendants were then required to lift the heavy bags off the floor and place them onto carts, a task that became increasingly strenuous on their backs due to the high volume of bags handled daily. To address this, ramps and tables were installed to raise the bags to a more appropriate height, decreasing the risk of injuries to the staff. 

3. Redesign of a workstation in the pharmacy at the Cedars Cancer Centre 
 Due to space constraints and working height difficulties, a new height adjustable workstation was introduced in the oncology pharmacy at the Cedars Cancer Centre. The manually adjustable workstation allows staff of varying heights to raise or lower the height of the workstation to adopt safe working postures throughout the day. The workstation also enhances organization, with additional shelving at an optimal working height and improved storage beneath the work surface. This redesign allows a greater number of pharmacy technical assistants to perform their tasks at a comfortable working height.  

4. Waste room upgrade at the Glen site 
An overhead crane with a below-hook drum lifter was installed in the Glen site chemical waste room to improve the old, labor-intensive method of handling heavy chemical liquid waste drums. Previously, staff had to manually position a ramp, push a hand truck with a full drum up the ramp and position it onto the containment pallet and drag it back down. The new system uses a machine to do the heavy lifting, placing the drum directly onto the containment pallet with minimal effort. This upgrade reduces physical strain and improves safety for our materiel transport staff. 

These are just a few examples of the many impactful changes made by the Prevention and Health Promotion team, highlighting their commitment to fostering a healthier and safer environment for all MUHC employees.