Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) continue to be a significant challenge for industries worldwide. Despite advances in ergonomics and safety interventions, MSDs remain a leading cause of lost-time claims, as highlighted during the recent CRE-MSD conference.
Every year on October 1, ergonomists, health and safety professionals, and others gather at the Center of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) conference to hear from researchers, policymakers, and experts. This year we heard an in-depth review of injury statistics from 2012-2023. Other conference speakers included the Chief Prevention Officer of the MLITSD (Dr. Joel Moody), the Founding Director of CRE-MSD (Dr. Richard Wells) and Dr. Jodi Oakman, a Professor from La Trobe University in Australia.
Here are some of the key “numbers” that we found useful, primarily from a presentation made by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB):
30% of all WSIB lost time claims in 2023 were MSDs. This does not include Covid, claims that were not associated with lost-time, and injuries to workers who are not covered under WSIB (about 25% of the workforce.) This number has trended down from 38% in 2012.
44% of lost-time MSDs were injuries to the back in 2023. MSDs of “multiple body parts” occurred in 10% of lost-time MSD claims, twice as often as in 2012. Carpal tunnel syndrome, that “classic” computer injury, accounted for only 0.8% of all lost-time MSDs in 2023 (down from 1.4% in 2012).
24–34 years is the age group with the highest frequency of claims. This has changed recently—for the past decade (at least), the the 45–49-year-old age group reported the most injuries. If the risk of MSD increases over years of exposure, we might be concerned to see the high incidence amongst young workers. It’s clear that prevention efforts need to target newer entrants to the workforce. Implementing comprehensive onboarding ergonomics training and regular follow-up assessments could help reduce these incidents.
68 is the average number of lost-time days per MSD claim in the construction industry (2020-2023). Runners-up in this category were “other services” (retail and wholesale, at 51 days) and mining (50 days). Note, however, that despite the high average number of lost-time days, the number of claims in these sectors was lower. Schedule 2 employers (such as banks, airlines, government, telephone companies) and Manufacturing reported the largest numbers of lost-time MSD claims.
5% of employees who suffer a lost-time MSD injury also receive a Non-Economic Loss benefit from WSIB, for permanent impairment. For every 20 workers who suffer a lost-time MSD at work, one of them experiences significant life changes.
3 weeks of plant shutdown was the equivalent amount of time lost due to MSD injuries for a US auto manufacturer, as presented by Allison Stephens. This statistic helped to shine a light on the need for ergonomics intervention. No executive wants to stop making cars for three weeks—something must be done! Cost-benefit analysis is key in generating support for ergonomics initiatives. (Come to our workshop for more help. We can also run this course at your facility!)
4:1 is the multiplier that is often used to calculate indirect injury costs. For every dollar your organization spends on WSIB claims, it spends at least $4 on quality, productivity, retraining, absenteeism, interventions, and other indirect costs. The WSIB report is only the “tip of the iceberg,” according to Stephens. Proactive investment in ergonomics is not just about safety; it’s about sustaining long-term business success.
We’ve made some gains – fewer lost-time MSDs is a good thing. But we still have a long way to go. As Stephens remarked, “You can’t improve what you don’t measure.” This underscores the need for regular data collection and monitoring. In addition to injury statistics, let’s look for opportunities to quantitatively improve productivity, quality, and employee engagement.
As we look ahead, health and safety leaders should focus on building MSD prevention strategies that are dynamic, data-driven, and responsive to emerging trends in the workforce. Now is the time to re-evaluate your ergonomics program and ensure it meets the evolving needs of your employees.
Conference Resources – MSD Prevention Works: Past, Present and Future | Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) | University of Waterloo (uwaterloo.ca) (Except where cited, statistics in this article were presented by Sonia Arruda, Diane Zhu, and Janet Murphy of the WSIB.)