Ergonomic injuries - Articles

Four tips to prevent & reduce musculoskeletal disorders

How to avoid the “walking wounded”

March 2, 2020

No magic pills make musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) disappear, yet risk, human resources and safety departments continue to buy into programs and systems that do not affectively aid in helping employees deemed the “walking wounded.”

Safety intervention less effective for low-wage workers

September 23, 2019

A safe patient-handling intervention decreased injuries among nurses, but not among lower-wage workers employed as patient care associates, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health. This study at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health compared self-reports of safe patient-handling practices and hospital injury rates at two large Boston area hospitals from 2012 to 2014.

Partnership protects entertainment industry workers

February 27, 2018

Although efforts to improve occupational safety often focus on industries like manufacturing, mining and agriculture, the arts can be dangerous, too. Thus, OSHA, United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC (IATSE) have just renewed their alliance to protect the safety and health of workers in the entertainment industry.

New way to prevent MSDs among construction workers

January 5, 2018

A rating system helped predict which solutions construction workers would use to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), according to a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri that was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The study appeared in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Musculoskeletal health research to benefit temporary retail workers

Emily Warner MA Jack Lu PhD, CPE

December 8, 2017

In October 2017 we published the first blog in a series to highlight musculoskeletal health research at NIOSH. With the holiday season upon us, this next installment will take the opportunity to discuss how best to promote musculoskeletal health in retail establishments to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among temporary retail workers.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

‘Tis the season for shopping and safety

November 29, 2016

‘Tis the season for shopping and for working—specifically in retail. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, 4.6 million Americans worked in retail sales while 3.4 million more worked as cashiers, making up almost six percent of total U.S. employment.

From NIOSH Research Rounds

Neck pain linked to psychosocial and organizational risks at work

August 26, 2016

In the United States, neck pain and other injuries to the upper arms and back are the underlying causes of approximately one-third of injury-related lost workdays in manufacturing. If you have ever experienced persistent neck pain, you know that it can affect every aspect of daily life.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) defy easy description

January 30, 2015

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a group of painful disorders of muscles, tendons, and nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, and tension neck syndrome are examples.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Thanksgiving ergonomics: Reducing material handling injuries with engineering controls

Vern Putz Anderson PhD, CPE

November 26, 2014

If you haven’t purchased your 20 pound Thanksgiving turkey or your 10 pound bag of potatoes rest assured employees at your local grocery stores are busy restocking the shelves each day with your favorite Thanksgiving foods.

Offices can have hazards, too

Scott Huntington

November 10, 2014

Compared to the roles of a power-line worker, bounty hunter, or coal miner, working in an office may not seem very dangerous. What's the worst that could happen -- a papercut or two? As The Office's Dwight Schrute would say, FALSE!