A musculoskeletal disorder is any damage or injury to the muscles or joints of the back and limbs.1 Recent statistics show that incident rates in the MENA region are among the highest in the world—second only to Western Europe.2
Here are some easy, cost-effective ways to help your employees prevent musculoskeletal disorders:
Design: create safe environments, clear of any tripping or falling hazards. Provide employees with proper equipment, such as ergonomic desk spaces or officially approved tools and gear for manual workers.3
Training: ensure employees know how to use tools and equipment properly, including proper posture and lifting techniques. Encourage frequent short breaks instead of fewer yet longer ones.4
Take action: perform a risk assessment which involves staff and prioritises their participation in discussions for ideas and solutions. This not only makes changes more welcome and easy to adopt, but ensures a high level of commitment.
To learn how Cigna’s products and services can help you create a healthier, more productive workplace, contact mesales@cigna.com
References:
[1] Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Musculoskeletal Disorders. http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/. Accessed 12 September 2017.
[2] Medscape. Low Back Pain Prevalent in Different Parts of the World. https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/825885. Accessed November 27, 2017
[3] Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Preventing back pain - What can I do to help protect workers? http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/employers/preventing.htm. Accessed 12 September 2017.
[4] National Health Service (NHS). Back pain at work. 2016. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/workplacehealth/Pages/backpainatwork.aspx. Accessed 12 September 2017.
[5] Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Ergonomics and human factors at work. 2013. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg90.pdf. Accessed 12 September 2017.
