Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of workers compensation claims in Australia, and include injuries or diseases of the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments or other components of the musculoskeletal system.

Musculoskeletal disorders can occur suddenly or develop over a long period of time. Work related factors that increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders include:

• Awkward or prolonged postures
• Bending and twisting
• Manual handling
• Repetitive movements
• Forceful exertion (including pushing, pulling, lifting or gripping)
• Inadequate task alternation or rest periods
• Poor work area design (including poor equipment design or set up)
• Exposure to vibration
• Prolonged task duration
• Housekeeping (or lack thereof)
• Slips, trips and falls
• Issues with access and egress
• Fatigue
• Psychosocial factors (including job dissatisfaction, stress and lack of control over workplace conditions), and
• Environmental factors (such as poor lighting or exposure to heat or cold).

Personal factors also play a role in the development of musculoskeletal disorders and include medical conditions, prior injuries, pregnancy, poor nutrition, genetic factors, stress and smoking.

If musculoskeletal disorders are an issue at your workplace, it's important to implement a participatory ergonomics program so workers can be involved in how their work or work area can safely be redesigned. Creating a supportive work environment, promoting awareness, regular training, and fostering healthy lifestyles will also assist to reduce risk of musculoskeletal disorders. An early intervention rehabilitation program is also critical to encourage workers to report any discomfort or injuries to their supervisor as soon as possible, so that assistance can be provided to prevent the onset of a more serious musculoskeletal condition. 

Additional Resources 

• Hazardous Manual Tasks Discomfort Survey (FREE!)
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Workplace Risk Assessment and Control (WRAC) Form
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Procedure
• Closing the evidence to practice gap in MSD prevention: what do we need to do?- Associate Professor Jodi Oakman (La Trobe University)  
• Applying systems thinking to understanding MSDs- Associate Professor Sharon Newman (Monash University)