How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders at a Worksite
- By Alex Saurman
- Jun 28, 2022
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) affect thousands of workers every year. In 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 272,780 cases of MSD caused people to miss work in the private sector.
So is there a way to prevent these injuries? Dr. Chantel Gorton, PT, DPT, and Whitney William, MS, CSP, talked about this in their session at the ASSP Safety 2022 Professional Development Conference & Exposition on June 28.
Early intervention is very important to prevent MSDs. Gorton and William said that education, an occupational based MSD specialist and offering onsite first aid treatment, like ice and heat, are great ways to prevent these injuries in the workplace.
Employees can also play a role in their safety. Education is a key point in prevention, as well as preventive care.
These measures benefit employees and companies. When workers are cared for on site, there are less loss of wages. Workers may also feel cared for by the company.
In a case study reviewed in the session, a distribution facility established an intervention program. Before the program, claims cost the company $1,000,000. The number and cost of claims dropped once the program started, with a return on investment of $1.7 million, William said.
To learn more about ASSP’s Safety 2022, visit safety.assp.org or follow OH&S’ coverage at the event at ohsonline.com/live.
About the Author
Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.