Musculoskeletal System Disorders – Prevention Using Work Place Ergonomics

Musculoskeletal system disorders, NIOSH provides steps to prevent musculoskeletal system disorders. The elements of an effective ergonomics program comprise a seven-step "pathway." The seven steps for preventing musculoskeletal system disorders are as follows:

(1) Gather data to identify jobs or work conditions that are most problematic, using sources such as injury and illness logs, medical records, and job analyses.

Early reporting allows corrective measures to be implemented before the effects of a job problem worsen. Inspecting the logs of injuries and illnesses required by OSHA and plant medical records can yield information about the nature of musculoskeletal system disorders, as can workers' compensation claims, insurance claims, absentee records, and job transfer applications.

(2) Look for signs of a potential musculoskeletal system problem in the workplace:

• Company OSHA Form 200 logs or workers' compensation claims show cases of work-related musculoskeletal system disorders.
• Certain jobs or work conditions cause worker complaints of undue strain, localized fatigue, discomfort, or pain that does not go away after overnight rest.

• Job tasks involve activities such as repetitive and forceful exertions: frequent, heavy, or overhead lifts: awkward work positions; or use of vibrating equipment.

(3) Identify effective controls for tasks that pose a risk of musculoskeletal system injury and evaluate these approaches once they have been instituted to see if they have reduced or eliminated the problem.

A three-tier hierarchy of controls is widely accepted as an intervention strategy for controlling workplace hazards, including ergonomic hazards. The three tiers are as follows:

• Reducing or eliminating potentially hazardous conditions using engineering controls.
• Changes in work practices and management policies, sometimes called administrative controls.
• Use of personal equipment.

(4) Establish healthcare management to emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment of musculoskeletal system disorders for preventing impairment and disability.

In general, healthcare management emphasizes the prevention of impairment and disability through early detection, prompt treatment, and timely recovery. Medical management responsibilities fall on employers, employees, and healthcare providers.

(5) Minimize risk factors for musculoskeletal system disorders when planning new work processes and operations.

It is less costly to build good design into the workplace than to redesign or retrofit later. Proactive ergonomics emphasize efforts at the design stage of work processes to recognize needs for avoiding risk factors that can lead to musculoskeletal system problems.

(6) Show management's commitment in addressing possible problems and encourage worker involvement in problem-solving activities.

Management commitment can be expressed in a variety of ways (policy statements, meetings, goals, committing resources, compensatory arrangements, dissemination of information, and evaluative measures).

Worker involvement in safety and health issues means obtaining worker input on several issues. The first input is defining real or suspected job hazards. Another is suggesting ways to control suspected hazards. A third involves working with management in deciding how best to put controls into place.

(7) Offer training to expand management and worker ability to evaluate potential musculoskeletal system problems.

For ergonomics, the overall goal of training is to enable managers, supervisors, and employees to identify aspects of job tasks that may increase a worker's risk of developing musculoskeletal system disorders, recognize the signs and symptoms of the musculoskeletal system disorders , and participate in the development of strategies to control or prevent them.