MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Hello, and welcome to MOL Radio.
Today, in our health and safety bulletin, we are going to discuss one of the most common workplace injuries in Ontario.
Musculoskeletal disorders may sound like a mouthful, but MSDs, for short, are the most common workplace lost-time injuries in our province.
These injuries can occur in any type of workplace, an office or assembly line, a hospital or a retail store, a construction site or a warehouse depot.
All workplaces have ergonomic-related hazards which can lead to MSDs. In fact, 43 per cent of all lost-time injury claims in Ontario are related to MSDs.
MSDs is an umbrella term for a wide range of injuries such as:
• Back Pain
• Muscle Strain
• Tendonitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Syndrome
• Tennis Elbow
• Shoulder Pain
Every day we use our muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. We use them to lift, carry, sit, stand, walk, move and work in a variety of ways. We expose them to vibration, extreme temperatures, and contact stress such as leaning a body part against a sharp edge or using the palm of the hand as a hammer.
If we do our tasks the wrong way, we can put too much demand on our bodies, causing pain and discomfort. Over time, the effects of the demands on our body may lead to a more serious injury - an MSD.
The Ministry of Labour takes these ergonomic injuries seriously. In fact, ergonomics - which looks at the relationship between workers and the way they perform their work - is included in our workplace inspections.
If you are a worker, pay attention to early signs of an MSD - a soreness that persists beyond a couple of weeks, swelling, numbness and tingling.
Employers should promote early reporting of symptoms by workers in order to put appropriate controls in place.
This may include modifying the layout of a workstation, providing proper tools or equipment for the task, teaching and training workers in proper work practices that will lower the possibility of injury, and assigning workers to a variety of tasks rather than one task being done repetitively.
Aside from the obvious benefits for workers' health and well being, employers will also benefit from lower lost-time injuries, and the expenses that accompany these injuries should decrease. And of course, there will be benefits from enhanced worker performance.
For workers, it is important to pay attention to how you perform a task. Proper work practices can lessen the possibility of pain and discomfort.
Remember … working shouldn't hurt!
For more information on MSDs and ergonomics, go to our website at ontario.ca (forward slash) pains and strains (one word). That's ontario.ca (forward slash) pains and strains (one word).
You'll find helpful information there. You'll also find interactive tools for both workers and employers on how to identify and prevent pains and strains in the workplace.
This is MOL Radio … thank you for listening