NSC’s Latest MSD Solutions Index Highlights Progress and Challenges in MSD Prevention
The National Safety Council's latest report shows progress in workplace MSD prevention, while highlighting ongoing challenges and opportunities for improvement.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 31, 2024
The National Safety Council (NSC) has released its 2023-2024 MSD Solutions Index. This latest edition reveals advancements in workplace musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention while identifying ongoing challenges and areas for improvement.
To address the devastating impact of workplace injuries, NSC’s MSD Solutions Lab—which launched in 2021 with funding from Amazon—developed the MSD Solutions Index and Pledge Community Report. The report benchmarks employer efforts in reducing MSD risks, fostering collaboration and promoting safety culture.
This year’s survey includes responses from 44 MSD Pledge members, representing various industries. In this edition, more organizations rated as "advancing" or "proactive" in MSD prevention, with 81.4 percent achieving these levels and 11.6 percent reaching the "innovating" category, a tier no organizations reached in the previous year.
The report also highlighted increased adoption of ergonomics programs, with nearly 89 percent of organizations now implementing such measures, up from 83 percent last year. Employers emphasizing proactive safety measures also grew, with 65.1 percent prioritizing leading indicators of MSD risks, compared to the previous 42 percent.
“This year’s report reflects the dedication of the MSD Pledge community to building safer workplaces and protecting workers’ health,” Katherine Mendoza, NSC’s senior director of workplace safety programs, said in a statement. “With the insights from the MSD Solutions Index, we see organizations are making significant strides and identifying critical areas for improvement, proving that the MSD Pledge can drive real change in the safety and wellbeing of workers worldwide.”
Additionally, the report identified that non-physical risk factors (e.g., mental fatigue) remain under-addressed, and smaller organizations often lack the resources to implement comprehensive MSD prevention strategies. The NSC recommends fostering strong safety cultures, engaging frontline workers in decision-making, and leveraging emerging technologies like automation and ergonomic assessment tools.
For more details on the MSD Solutions Index, visit the NSC webpage on such efforts.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.