Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) have been a growing concern to industry over the past two decades. As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) now make up more than one out of every three work-related injuries reported. According to a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, it is estimated that each year there are 846,000 lost workday cases of WMSD in private industry. This same report estimates that the total economic burden from these cases is at least $45 billion per year.
Industry's answer to the substantial WMSD problem has been to institute ergonomic improvement activities. It has been well established that an effective ergonomics program can help companies reduce WMSD incidents and workers' compensation costs. A General Accounting Office publication reported that five businesses experienced reductions in ergonomics-related workers' compensation costs ranging from 35% to 91% after they implemented an ergonomics program.
Unfortunately, industry as a whole is not experiencing this level of success. Despite increasing effort and investment, companies are finding that their conventional ergonomics programs are struggling, and WMSDs and related compensation costs are not being driven down fast enough. According to BLS data, lost workday case rates declined only 21% between 1994 and 2000 despite escalating government activity and substantial company investment in ergonomics programs.
Decades of involvement with ergonomics have taught industry some very tough lessons. From these lessons, we derive three critical factors for a successful ergonomics initiative. Regardless of industry and geography, a successful ergonomics initiative must be effective, it must add value, and it must be sustainable.
Effectiveness relates to the ability of an ergonomics initiative to achieve the intended goal - to reduce incident rates, severity rates, and workers' compensation costs, or improve productivity, for example. Companies that experience significant results in these areas rely on a solid foundation of risk management, and are aware that wellness agendas such as stretching and exercises cannot substitute for the reduction of workplace hazards. They follow the four basic principles of effective ergonomic risk management: recognition, evaluation, control, and anticipation.
Companies must recognize workplace risk factors that contribute to Musculoskeletal Disorders, those tasks that require forceful exertions, high rates of repetition, and awkward postures. In many cases, employee MSD risk exposure can be reduced or eliminated with predefined solutions. Common ergonomic challenges have likely been identified in a company, and effective countermeasures implemented at some point in the past. Good communication of past experiences and access to proven solutions will ensure that recognition activities are fully leveraged.
Recognition of understood problems is a very effective first step. However, this approach is not appropriate for addressing issues that require more than a bare minimum of investment (time or money). A more disciplined process must occur to engage the resources needed to tackle sophisticated workplace challenges. That's where the second risk management principle, evaluation, comes in.
