Muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons can all be affected by musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Lifting heavy objects, stooping, reaching high overhead, pushing and pushing large loads, working in unusual positions, and repetitively performing the same or similar activities are all risk factors for workers in various sectors and vocations. The risk of injury to workers increased significantly for them when exposed to established MSD risk factors.

Benefits of Ergonomics Awareness Training

The good news is that MSDs caused by work are preventable. Ergonomics, or the science of fitting a task to a person, minimizes muscular fatigue, boosts productivity, and lowers the frequency and severity of work-related MSDs.

How Musculoskeletal Disorders Impact the Workplace

Work-related MSDs are one of the most common reasons for missed or reduced working hours. MSD cases made up 33% of all worker injuries and sickness cases in 2013, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Developing a Process for Protecting Employees

Employers are obligated to make sure that their employees work in a healthy and safe environment. By implementing ergonomic principles in the workplace, the quantity and severity of MSDs caused by physical overexertion and their associated expenses significantly decreased.

In high-risk industries like manufacturing, food processing, firefighting, office work, medical, transportation, and logistics, implementing an ergonomic procedure is beneficial in decreasing the risk of MSDs. An ergonomic approach should have the following elements:

Offers Management Support

The overall effectiveness of an ergonomic system depends on management’s firm commitment to its implementation. Leaders should develop clear ergonomic goals and objectives, address them with employees, delegate responsibilities to designated employees, and communicate appropriately with their workers.

Involves Staff 

The effective ergonomic process is a participatory strategy in which workers are closely engaged in worksite assessments, solution creation, and implementation. Workers must be able to:

• Identify and communicate critical information regarding workplace hazards.
• Assist in the ergonomic process by expressing their concerns, making suggestions for minimizing risk factors, and examining the adjustments made due to an ergonomic assessment.

Deliver Training 

A crucial part of the ergonomic process is education. It ensures that employees are made aware of ergonomics and its benefits, are advised of ergonomics-related workplace hazards, and are mindful of the significance of reporting early MSD symptoms.

Detect Problems

Identifying and assessing ergonomic problems in the workplace before they lead to MSDs is crucial in the ergonomic process.

Encourage MSD Symptoms to Be Reported Early

Early reporting can help speed up the job evaluation and improvement process, preventing or reducing the progression of symptoms, the development of significant injuries, and the resulting lost-time claims.

Employ Strategies to Regulate Risks

Numerous solutions may be adopted to reduce, control, or eradicate MSDs in the workplace.

Monitor Progress

To maintain the ergonomic process’s continual improvement and long-term success, established evaluation and corrective action methods must be used to analyze its efficacy regularly. When developing an ergonomic process, develop assessments to determine if the process’s goals are being accomplished or not and if the adopted ergonomic solutions succeed.  

Final Thoughts

An effective ergonomic process is a crucial factor in reducing MSDs in the workplace. Employers should use their discretion to establish an ergonomics process that fits their unique working environment, ensuring that workers understand their roles in it and can identify potential hazards. The best option to improve safety in the workplace and prevent musculoskeletal disorders injuries is to offer Ergonomics Awareness Training.