This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform Oregon employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general Oregon OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not a substitute for any provision of the Oregon Safety Employment Act or any standards issued by Oregon OSHA. For more information on this online course and other OR-OSHA online training, visit the Online Course Catalog.

INTRODUCTION

Note: This on-line course includes information first published as the NIOSH Elements of Ergonomics Program in 1997. We are grateful for the hard work on NIOSH in producing much of this material.

What are work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?

Musculoskeletal disorders include a group of conditions that involve the nerves, tendons, muscles, and supporting structures such as intervertebral discs. They represent a wide range of disorders, which can differ in severity from mild periodic symptoms to severe chronic and debilitating conditions. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, tension neck syndrome, and low back pain.

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders are caused or made worse by the work environment. MSDs can cause severe and debilitating symptoms such as:

pain, numbness, and tingling
reduced worker productivity
lost time from work
temporary or permanent disability
inability to perform job tasks, and
an increase in workers compensation costs

MSDs are often confused with ergonomics. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of workers.

In other words, MSDs are the problem and ergonomics is a solution.

What are the risk factors for MSDs?

Risk factors for MSDs include;

repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertions of the hands
frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying of heavy objects
prolonged awkward postures, and
vibration contribute to MSDs

Jobs or working conditions that combine risk factors will increase the risk for musculoskeletal problems. The level of risk depends on how long a worker is exposed to these conditions, how often they are exposed, and the level of exposure.

How common are MSDs?

MSDs of any cause are among the most prevalent medical problems, affecting 7% of the population and accounting for 14% of physician visits and 19% of hospital stays.

When looking specifically at work-related MSDs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 1995, 62% (308,000) of all illness cases were due to disorders associated with repeated trauma. This figure does not include back injuries. BLS also reports that the number of cases of repeated trauma has increased significantly, rising from 23,800 cases in 1972 to 332,000 cases in 1994—a fourteenfold increase. In 1995, the number of cases decreased by 7% to 308,000 reported cases, but this number still exceeds the number of cases in any year prior to 1994.

When looking specifically at cases involving days away from work, for which more detailed information is available, BLS reports that in 1994, approximately 32% or 705,800 cases were the result of overexertion or repetitive motion. This figure includes back injuries.

NIOSH research and prevention

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the only federal agency mandated to conduct research and train professionals to identify and prevent workplace hazards. The Institute is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NIOSH conducts and funds a substantial amount of research on musculoskeletal disorders, currently a total of 80 projects on work-related MSD-related topics. A directory of all these projects has been published by NIOSH (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 97-109). For more information on work-related MSDs or on other workplace safety and health issues call: 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674).

What this course is about

This internet course has been developed to help you

Evaluate the potential for workplace musculoskeletal disorders, and
Develop an effective ongoing ergonomics program

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