Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) have resulted in over $2 billion in claim costs over the past five years, WorkSafeBC reports. The agency is urging B.C. employers to mitigate the risks associated with these prevalent workplace injuries.
MSIs encompass injuries and disorders affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, or blood vessels. They include conditions such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
“Tasks at work like lifting, reaching, and repetitive motions can strain our bodies and cause an MSI,” said Suzana Prpic, director of Prevention Field Services at WorkSafeBC. “MSIs are the most common type of workplace injury, making up 30 per cent of all WorkSafeBC time-loss claims and 26 per cent of claim costs.”
From 2019 to 2023, approximately 83,000 time-loss claims for MSIs were accepted by WorkSafeBC, with costs surpassing $2 billion. These injuries are prevalent in health care, retail, local government, restaurants, public schools, and trades.
Workers with MSIs often face reduced quality of life, chronic disability, and psychological distress. Employers also suffer from increased absenteeism, turnover, and higher insurance premiums due to these injuries.
Measures for employers
WorkSafeBC advises employers to conduct risk assessments for MSIs and implement measures to minimize these risks. This includes educating and training workers about MSI risks.
“Integrating MSI prevention into occupational health and safety programs is essential,” Prpic said. “Employers should identify risky tasks, such as repetitive motions, heavy lifting, or awkward movements, and determine how to mitigate these risks.”
Employers should review first aid records, injury claims, and incident investigation results to identify jobs or activities with MSI risk factors. Observations and discussions with workers performing these jobs are also crucial.
WorkSafeBC emphasizes involving workers and joint health and safety committees in the process, as they best understand the work and associated hazards. Promoting a culture of reporting is critical, as many MSIs develop gradually and often become severe before being addressed.
Inspectional focus
WorkSafeBC’s inspectional initiatives target industries and employers with a high risk of serious workplace injuries and a significant contribution to the injury and time-loss claims rates. In 2024, a specific MSI Planned Inspectional Initiative will focus on supermarkets and large retailers.
WorkSafeBC also offers resources and tools to help workers and employers identify, assess, and control MSI risk factors.
Resources from WorkSafeBC
- Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Planned Inspectional Initiative
- Ergonomics webpage
- Guide to Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Risk Assessment
- Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Risk Assessment Worksheet
- OHS Regulation, Part 4 — Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements
- OHS Guidelines, Part 4 — Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements