Comprehensive survey reveals insights and areas of improvement
The National Safety Council (NSC), in collaboration with Amazon, has released its MSD Solutions Index Pledge Community Report, shedding light on the progress made in reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace. The report, based on a survey of more than 50 leading companies, reveals both encouraging developments and areas where improvements are necessary in preventing the most common workplace injury that costs businesses nearly $17 billion annually.
The Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index has identified MSDs as the most prevalent workplace injury, placing a significant financial burden on businesses in the private sector. In response to this alarming issue, the NSC established the MSD Solutions Lab in 2021, with support from Amazon to address workplace MSDs comprehensively.
A pivotal initiative stemming from the lab, the MSD Pledge, was introduced in June 2022, with numerous global employers pledging their commitment to tackle this widespread safety challenge.
To monitor progress and transform workplace safety, the NSC developed the MSD Solutions Index, an annual benchmarking survey. The inaugural findings are now available in the MSD Solutions Index Pledge Community Report.
"What gets measured gets managed, which is why collecting workplace data is critical to helping organizations mitigate MSDs. Through the MSD Solutions Index, it not only provides direct, tangible takeaways for each pledging organization but offers key insights that can be applied across industries to improve MSD prevention. Addressing the most common workplace injury on a global scale has never been done before, and initiatives like this help our entire safety community be better positioned to create safer outcomes for millions of workers worldwide," says Paul Vincent, executive vice president of workplace practice at NSC.
The survey was conducted between December 2022 and June 2023, with 52 MSD Pledge members representing diverse industries, including manufacturing, professional services, transportation, healthcare, and utilities, completing a comprehensive 46-question MSD Solutions Index survey. The results unveiled several notable insights:
- While no organization achieved a perfect score on the MSD Solutions Index, 85% received overall results in the advancing (39%) or proactive (46%) categories, emphasizing the complexity of MSD prevention.
- Within the three pledge commitment subsections, Risk Reduction and Safety Culture received encouraging scores, with 44% and 42% of organizations, respectively, falling into the advancing or proactive categories.
- Larger organizations, with over 1,000 employees, demonstrated greater effectiveness in mitigating MSD risk, attributed to mature safety programs and access to advanced MSD solutions.
- Nearly 80% of pledge members already have MSD prevention or ergonomics programs in place, and 65% track MSD rates in their workplaces.
- Employee involvement in safety decisions, particularly concerning workstation design and workflow, led to stronger safety cultures. However, larger organizations saw lower levels of trust and frontline worker involvement in decision-making.
- Psychosocial risk factors, including mental health, fatigue, and equipment-related concerns, were reported by nearly 85% of organizations as contributors to MSDs.
- Over 80% of pledging members use technology to prevent MSDs and effectively disseminate best practices.
The report not only highlighted areas of success but also identified opportunities for further improvement, such as enhanced methods for tracking MSDs, quantifying psychosocial risk factors, and sharing best practices across organizations.
In response to the findings, the report outlined several recommendations for organizations to establish impactful MSD programs:
- Engage senior leadership and designate an MSD solutions champion to drive workplace safety.
- Collect and respond to employee feedback regularly and measure the progress of MSD programs and safety culture.
- Involve frontline workers in identifying and addressing risk factors.
- Ensure equitable access to MSD solutions for all employees.
The report serves as a resource to health and safety professionals interested in better mitigating the hazards associated with MSD.
