Avoiding Musculoskeletal Disorders at Work

One of the National Safety Council’s areas of focus during this year’s National Safety Month is musculoskeletal disorders.

“Musculoskeletal disorders” might not be a term you can define precisely off the top of your head, but we’re pretty sure you’re familiar with at least some of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ list of conditions it covers:

• Pinched nerves
• Herniated discs
• Meniscus tears
• Sprains, strains and tears
• Hernias (traumatic and nontraumatic)
• Pain, swelling and numbness
• Carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Raynaud’s syndrome or phenomenon
• Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders

In short, the BLS says these are injuries that “occur when the body uses muscles, tendons and ligaments to perform tasks, oftentimes in awkward positions or in frequent activities which over time can create pain and injury. Overexertion and repetitive motion are the primary causes of these injuries.”

The NSC reports nearly 250,000 work-related injuries or illnesses connected to these conditions happened in 2020, leading to a median of 14 days away from work. The majority (68%) were strains, sprains and tears, and most affected workers’ backs, shoulders and knees.

When you take into account lost time as well as medical and other expenses, the tab to American businesses comes in at more than $13 billion per year, so focusing on prevention just makes sense.

The NSC says “musculoskeletal disorders are the most common causes of disability, early retirement and limitations to gainful employment,” so prevention also is the right thing to do for your employees.

To encourage employers across the nation to prevent and reduce the risk of these conditions, the NSC is encouraging the MSD Pledge. Participants promise to reduce risk, innovate and collaborate, build an organizational culture that values safety and commit to a significant reduction of these injuries.

Risk areas for these conditions vary by industry, but in MRO injuries often can occur by improper lifting technique and lifting or moving items that are too large or bulky. Among our many safety products, we have several specifically designed to help prevent musculoskeletal disorders:

• The Proflex Back Support offers a durable spandex body cloth that provides breathable comfort and holds its shape over time. Its rubber-tracked webbing helps keep it in place, and its adjustable two-stage closure allows the user to wear the support in a relaxed position, then tighten it when ready to lift.
• Our Heavy-Duty Knee Protectors are ideal for use in work environments to prevent pain or injuries to the knees. The air-injected 7/8” thick gel pads offer superior comfort on hard surfaces, and the durable PVC outer shell resists liquids and has anti-slip ridges to prevent sliding during use.

If you’d like help identifying opportunities to improve safety in your shop, your Kimball Midwest sales representative would love to help. If you aren’t a current customer, we’d be happy to help you .