Musculoskeletal Disorders

Over time, tasks that cause repeated stress and injury to the body can lead to painful disorders of the muscles, tendons, and nerves.

Common causes

• Lifting, pushing, and pulling with excessive frequency and force
• Fast work pace, pressure to produce, and not enough time to recover from work
• The workstation is not set up with the worker in mind
• Awkward body posture and working positions

What workplaces can do

• Automate tasks
• Provide tools that do not require awkward positions or excessive force
• Design the workstation for the worker
• Provide carts, hoists, or other mechanical devices to help with heavy and frequent manual materials handling
• Increase the variety of tasks
• Rotate workers between different tasks
• Distribute work evenly
• Encourage rest breaks
• Train workers on safe work practices
• Give workers more control over their jobs

Be aware of what causes musculoskeletal disorders and develop a prevention program to manage their impact. Educate workers on how to work safely, provide them with the resources they need, and encourage them to report hazards and symptoms early.