NSC Commits $300,000 to Musculoskeletal Disorder Research
The National Safety Council has allocated $300,000 for its third year of grants aimed at reducing workplace injuries caused by musculoskeletal disorders.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 11, 2024
The National Safety Council (NSC) has announced its third annual round of grants focused on preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the most common and costly workplace injuries. With this latest $300,000 investment, the total funding through its MSD Solutions Lab has reached $835,000 since its inception in 2021.
According to a recent release, the funding supports the Research to Solutions (R2S) grant and the MSD Solutions Pilot Grant. R2S will award up to $200,000 in grants, providing up to $50,000 per project to develop scalable solutions for preventing MSDs. Eligible research focuses on emerging technologies, task-specific risks, management systems, and overall worker well-being.
Meanwhile, the MSD Solutions Pilot Grant will allocate up to $100,000, offering $20,000 per project to organizations testing technologies that aim to address repetitive motion, awkward postures and forceful exertions. Participants will partner with the nine technology providers showcased at the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
“Bringing together visionary researchers and organizations to tackle MSDs is instrumental in pushing the boundaries of workplace safety,” NSC Senior Director of Workplace Programs Katherine Mendoza said in a statement. “We are thrilled to see these programs continuing to grow, providing critical resources to innovative leaders committed to keeping employees safe and MSD-free.”
MSDs, such as tendinitis, back strains, and carpal tunnel syndrome, are currently the leading workplace injury. They cost U.S. businesses nearly $18 billion annually, according to the 2024 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. Grant recipients for the 2024-2025 cycle will present their findings at the 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.