OSH Answers Fact Sheets

What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis, also known as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease, is a disorder that affects the joints. At the joint, the surfaces of the bones are lined with tissue called cartilage. Cartilage provides a smooth surface for movements. Sometimes, the cartilage between bones breaks down. The normally smooth cartilage becomes pitted and frayed, and cartilage segments may be lost. Bony outgrowths also form, which interfere with the movement of nearby tendons and...

What is chronic pain? Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage. Chronic pain is defined as pain experienced on most days (or every day) for three months or more. High-impact chronic pain is pain that limits a person’s life or work activities most days for three months or more.  Health Canada states that almost eight million Canadians live with chronic pain. These...

What is lifting? Lifting is a type of manual material handling that involves moving a load to a different position. It can include holding the load in a static position during transportation and placing the load at the destination. A lifting operation typically involves raising, moving, and lowering a load. Lifting can be done entirely manually or with the use of equipment. This fact sheet does not cover lifting exclusively with equipment, such as an overhead crane operation . What kind of...

What are concussions? A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused when the brain is shaken in the skull. A blow to the head, a blow to another part of the body that jolts the head, or any forceful movement of the brain can result in a concussion. Concussions can be challenging to detect because they are not typically visible on routine diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or Computed Tomography (CT) scans.   What are some hazards that can cause a...