1. Musculoskeletal
Hazards in the
Workplace

2. Objectives
 At the end of this session, you should:
1. Know what Musculo-skeletal Disorders (MSD’s) are
2. Know the Risk Factors associated with MSD’s
3. Know about Body Mechanics
4. Know how to prevent of Injuries

3. Musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs)
A Musculo-skeletal disorder refers to an injury or illness to soft body tissue
such as muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal
discs.
Examples include:
-Back injuries and back pain
-Work-related upper limb disorders
(WRULDs) e.g. Carpal tunnel
syndrome, etc.
-Chronic soft-tissue injuries

4. High Risk Activities
Activities
that have
a high
likelihood
to cause
MSDs
Use of Display Screen Equipment
(DSE)
Sorting of garbage
Arching the back when trying to lift
heavy items
Poor postures over extended periods
of time

5. Causes of MSD’s
MSD’s are
caused
by
repetitive
activities
such as
Bending
Climbing
Crawling
Reaching
Twisting
Overexertion

6. Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Environmental Risk
Factors
Temperature Lighting Vibration Noise
Equipment
Risk Factors
Equipment
design
Equipment
adjustability
Activity Risk Factors
Stressful
postures
Improper
gripping
Improper
lifting
Repetitive
motion

7. Heat and Cold Effects
*Comfortable temperature
range is approximately 20-
24oC with a low humidity (20
– 60%)
Temperature
Cramps
(Heat)
Discomfort
(Heat)
Hypothermia
(Cold)
Loss of
flexibility
(Cold)

8. Effects of Vibration
Vibration
Pain to Muscles
and Joints
Damage to
internal organs
Soft tissue
damage: of the
hands, arms, feet
and legs; of the
spine
(intervertebral
discs)
Nerve damage

9. Effects of Poor Lighting
Poor
lighting
Increased
overall stress
Headaches
Muscle
strains
Fatigue
Eye strain
Increases risk
of trip and
fall hazards
Reduces
hand-eye
coordination

10. Effect of Noise
Any sound at or above 85 dBA is more likely
to damage your hearing over time. Noise
levels above 100 decibels can cause:
Noise
Headaches
Increased
blood
pressure
Muscle
tension
Fatigue
Irritability
Distraction

11. Effects of poor equipment design
Poor
equipment
design
Hard to
manipulate
Too
heavy
Vibrate

12. Poor adjustability of equipment
Poor
adjustability
of
equipment
Narrow scope
of adjustibility
to suit user’s
personal
preferences
Difficult to
adjust

13. Work posture
Prolonged standing
Sitting without back support
Sitting too high with dangling legs
Rounded shoulders
Leaning forward
Extended arms
Overreaching

14. Other posture problems
Winged
elbows
Stepping
backwards
Locking
knees
Bent
wrist

15. Effects of Repetition
Factors
to
consider
Number of repetitions per minute
Fore required
Work posture
Muscle fatigue
Stress to tendons and ligaments

16. Improper Gripping
Factors
that
contribute
to
increased
gripping
hazards
include
Wrist position
Amount of contact area
Surface friction
Vibration
Type of grip

17. Improper Lifting
Factors
that
increase
lifting
hazards
include:
Weight of the object
Size of the object
Number of times the object is lifted or moved
Twisting while lifting or carrying an object
Bending while lifting or carrying an object
Extended reach to grasp or place an object
Figure 1: Proper lifting technique

18. Controlling hazards
 Engineering controls: act on the source of the
hazard and control the exposure to the hazard
without relying on the employee to take self
protective action
 Administrative controls: the processes we use to
limit exposure to repetitive tasks.

19. Examples of Engineering Controls
Redesign of
workstations to
improve posture
Redesign of tools
to reduce stress
Lighting
modifications
Vibration
reduction
Noise reduction
Use of machines
to automate
repetitive tasks
Use of
mechanical lifting
devices
Changing the
flow of material
in the work
process

20. Examples of Administrative Controls
Employee rotation so
that workers do not
use the same motions
all day long
Job task enlargement
to give more varied
actions
Adjustment of work
pace to reduce the
number of repetitions
Redesign of work
methods to lower high
stress and repetition
Alternative tasks for
workers that keep them
productive but allow
changes in position,
force and posture
Warm up & stretch
before activities that
are repetitive, static or
prolonged
Rest breaks to allow
time for muscles to rest
and recover

21. Combating MSDs in the workplace
Identification signs
and symptoms of
muscular skeletal
disorders
Importance of early
reporting
Being aware of
specific hazards
and their controls
Liaise with HSEQ
Department to
recommend
control methods
Employ protective
measures

22. Exercise
 For those of use whose job functions involve a lot of manual handling
activities, we should try to exercise often.
Benefits:
• Muscle strength helps
maintain natural curves
• Keeps back strong and supple
• Warm muscles increase ease
of movement
• Increased blood flow and
decrease potential stiffness

23. Exercise
Change your posture/position often
Stretch frequently throughout the
day
Keep body flexible (not rigid or
fixed)
Warm up before any strenuous
work or lifting
Move slowly and gently
Stop if there is any discomfort

24. Summary
 In the course of our training, we discussed in detail about MSDs, their
causes and how they affect us whether at work or at home.
 We also discussed how we can eliminate or substantially reduce the
occurrence of MSDs from our activities.
 We also discussed the application of engineering and administrative
controls in reduction of MSD’s.
 We also discussed the importance of the employee to be able to identify
symptoms of MSDs and report them early when they occur.

25. QUESTION TIME