Musculoskeletal Disorder Case Study

INTRODUCTION:

Currently it is commonly accepted among industries that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect employees regardless of the occupation as well as cost that these injuries impose on the employer and the populace as a whole. Nevertheless, in the manufacturing business it is mostly common for individuals to perform manual materials handling (MMH) task that are believed to factor in on some of the most pricy job-related injuries to date, such as those attributed to the back. And although through the advancement of technology with the aid of robotics and the use of other equipment the need for MMH has been decreased, but certain jobs still require the need for humans to perform those kinds of tasks and this is more apparent in smaller manufacturing businesses or warehouses that cannot afford these advancements. With MSDs contributing to a large percentage of MMH injuries, with over 387,000 or 33 percent of all work related injury cases in 2011, far exceeding all other work related injuries (Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 2011). Maybe this is due to the well-known fact that MSDs are connected with jobs and tasks comprising of repetitive motions and exertion, together with such identifiable risk factors as awkward postures, use of force, and lack of recuperation before restarting the same task. Nonetheless, the best means of prevention is through the improvement of working conditions and the implementation of an ergonomics program. However, one of the principal challenges that face managers and supervisors today is the systematic approach to conduct an ergonomics evaluation and to use ergonomics consistently through a proactive approach with the aim at reducing MSDs either by engineering or administrative imp...

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...ted altogether, but by applying ergonomic concepts by administratively or engineering out the hazards, the risks involved can be drastically reduced. Additionally, reduced costs to employers through workers compensation claims and less time away from work occurs when redesigning the workplace or task itself thus increasing worker satisfaction and decreasing employee injuries. But regardless without a proactive approach from management and employees looking for ways to reduce ergonomic stressors in the work place either by following guidance through administrative controls or failing to use the materials handling equipment provided by the employer, the ergonomics program will fail. And to reduce those pricy back injuries, a comprehensive look at the work practices and employees is required to incorporate the ever changing technology to create safer work environments.