RESEARCH & RESOURCES
Context on physical demand, work efficiency, Canadian workplace performance and how Vergo's movement measurement was tested.
WHY TASK DESIGN MATTERS
Work height, reach, staging, sequence and material flow shape both the physical demand on the person doing the work and how time is spent across the task.
Looking at both together gives teams a clearer basis for deciding what to change and for checking whether that change made a difference.
PHYSICAL DEMAND AND PREVENTION
Canadian prevention guidance emphasizes identifying physical demands, involving workers, improving work design and checking whether controls are working. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so employers should also follow the legislation and guidance that apply to their workplace.
Look at lifting, force, reaching, bending, arm elevation, awkward positions and sustained postures.
Consider how often demanding movements repeat and whether there is enough variation or recovery time.
Review work height, reach distance, workstation layout, tools, equipment and material flow.
Where possible, change the task or work environment at its source rather than relying only on technique.
WORK EFFICIENCY
Task steps, observed timing and repeating cycles provide a structured way to review how physical work is carried out. These measures help a team decide what deserves attention. A longer step or slower cycle does not by itself mean the work is inefficient.
Break a recorded task into confirmed steps so teams can discuss the same sequence of work.
Review how time is distributed across the selected recording and where a team may want to look more closely.
When the footage supports it, compare confirmed cycles and average cycle time across repeated work.
CANADIAN CONTEXT
WORKPLACE INJURY CONTEXT
274,025
Lost-time claims reported in the 2023 Canadian Workers' Compensation System, Year at a Glance.
AWCBC separately classified 99,051 accepted lost-time claims under bodily reaction and exertion. That event category is relevant to many musculoskeletal injury mechanisms but is not a direct count of all musculoskeletal injuries.
PRODUCTIVITY CONTEXT
73%
Canada's business-sector labour productivity was about 73% of the U.S. level in 2019.
This is national context, not a Vergo outcome. Improving individual tasks is one practical place where organizations can act.
RESEARCH AND VALIDATION
A validation study conducted with researchers at Dalhousie University compared Vergo's movement measurements with optical motion capture under controlled laboratory conditions.
The study covered movement measurement only. It did not evaluate Work Efficiency, task-step analysis, Cycle Analysis or productivity outcomes.
Smartphone video
Standard video of a handling task.
Laboratory comparison
Compared with professional optical motion capture.
Movement tracking findings
Torso movement tracked particularly closely.
Dalhousie University
A validation study conducted with researchers at Dalhousie University compared Vergo’s movement measurements with optical motion capture under controlled laboratory conditions.
National Research Council of Canada
Technology development supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program.
Support does not constitute product validation or endorsement by the National Research Council of Canada.
RESPONSIBLE USE
Workers should understand why a task is being recorded, how the recording will be used and who may access it. Vergo is designed to support task review, not employee ranking, disciplinary decisions or individual performance management. Workplace judgement and appropriate worker input remain important when deciding what to change.
READY TO SEE VERGO IN ACTION?
Book a demo to see the platform, review a sample assessment and discuss how Vergo can support your safety and operational goals.