WMSD's

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, or WMSDs, are injuries to the muscles, or WMSDs, are injuries to the muscles, tendons, nerves, and joints which occur tendons, nerves, and joints which occur or are aggravated on the job.or are aggravated on the job.

WMSD’s are also commonly called WMSD’s are also commonly called Sprains and Strains.Sprains and Strains.

In 2005, Liberty Mutual estimated that In 2005, Liberty Mutual estimated that injuries caused by excessive physical injuries caused by excessive physical demand cost the construction industry demand cost the construction industry $13.4 billion $13.4 billion nationally. nationally.

Also in 2005, the Washington State Also in 2005, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Department of Labor and Industries concluded that sprain and strain injuries concluded that sprain and strain injuries accounted for 36% of the state’s injury accounted for 36% of the state’s injury claim reports (almost 50,000) at a cost of claim reports (almost 50,000) at a cost of over $300 Million.over $300 Million.

• A muscle strain is the A muscle strain is the stretching or tearing of stretching or tearing of muscle fibers.muscle fibers.

• Caused by overuse, sports, Caused by overuse, sports, a sudden movement or a sudden movement or exercise, or trying to lift exercise, or trying to lift something to heavy.something to heavy.

• Symptoms are pain, Symptoms are pain, tightness, swelling, tightness, swelling, tenderness, and inability to tenderness, and inability to move the muscle very well.move the muscle very well.

What is a Strain?What is a Strain?

• A sprain is a stretching or A sprain is a stretching or tearing injury to a ligament tearing injury to a ligament (tissue that connects (tissue that connects bones). bones).

• Caused by sudden twisting, Caused by sudden twisting, falling, or getting hit.falling, or getting hit.

• Symptoms are pain, Symptoms are pain, swelling, bruising, and swelling, bruising, and inability to move or use the inability to move or use the joint.joint.

What is a Sprain?What is a Sprain?

Strains to the back, neck, shoulder, Strains to the back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist or leg are common and can elbow, wrist or leg are common and can arise from heavy lifting, awkward arise from heavy lifting, awkward postures, or repetitive motions.postures, or repetitive motions.

Muscle strains can occur suddenly from Muscle strains can occur suddenly from a one time incident such as a slip, trip or a one time incident such as a slip, trip or fall, or can develop from doing the same fall, or can develop from doing the same activity over time.activity over time.

Potential Health Effects:Potential Health Effects:• If early signs or symptoms are ignored, they can If early signs or symptoms are ignored, they can

progress into more serious problems progress into more serious problems • Conditions can have long-term effects on a Conditions can have long-term effects on a

person’s health, work, recreational options, and person’s health, work, recreational options, and other aspects of life including retirement other aspects of life including retirement

• Problems may include persistent pain, pain with Problems may include persistent pain, pain with movement, or an inability to move limbs movement, or an inability to move limbs normallynormally

Risk Factor: An activity or situation which Risk Factor: An activity or situation which may contribute to an injury.may contribute to an injury.

Risk Factors for WMSD’sRisk Factors for WMSD’s• Job-related factors: forceful exertions Job-related factors: forceful exertions

during physical work, handling heavy during physical work, handling heavy loads, etc.loads, etc.

• Awkward postures: reaching down, Awkward postures: reaching down, reaching overhead, being in bent reaching overhead, being in bent positions, etc.positions, etc.

• Repetitive movements: performing the Repetitive movements: performing the same task over and over, using certain same task over and over, using certain tools, etc.tools, etc.

Personal Risk Factors for WMSD’s:Personal Risk Factors for WMSD’s:

1.1. Work-styleWork-style

2.2. AgeAge

3.3. SmokingSmoking

4.4. Height & WeightHeight & Weight

5.5. General Conditioning General Conditioning

6.6. Pre-existing InjuriesPre-existing Injuries

What can you do about WMDSs?What can you do about WMDSs?• Educate you workers about WMSDs and Educate you workers about WMSDs and

the associated risk factorsthe associated risk factors• Help your workers to recognize WMSD Help your workers to recognize WMSD

symptomssymptoms• Train your workers in prevention Train your workers in prevention

strategies which include a worksite strategies which include a worksite stretching program such as thisstretching program such as this

• Support your workers as they take Support your workers as they take personal responsibility for their healthpersonal responsibility for their health

This stretching program is designed to This stretching program is designed to improve worker flexibility in as little as 8-12 improve worker flexibility in as little as 8-12 minutes of stretching as part of each work minutes of stretching as part of each work day.day.

The objectives of this program are to:The objectives of this program are to:•Reduce on-the-job injuries and Reduce on-the-job injuries and associated medical costs.associated medical costs.

• Increase productivity and profitabilityIncrease productivity and profitability•Enhance workplace moral and general Enhance workplace moral and general awareness of health and safety awareness of health and safety

Management Module:Management Module:

How can you help the owners/managers of How can you help the owners/managers of your company see the value in a stretching your company see the value in a stretching program?program?

How is managements support important to How is managements support important to the success of a stretching program?the success of a stretching program?

Supervisor Module:Supervisor Module:

How can you help your supervisors see the How can you help your supervisors see the value in a stretching program?value in a stretching program?

How is the support of supervisors important How is the support of supervisors important to the success of a stretching program?to the success of a stretching program?

Employee Module:Employee Module:

How will you help your employees see this How will you help your employees see this as a preventative step in staying healthy and as a preventative step in staying healthy and keeping their jobs?keeping their jobs?

How do you anticipate employees will How do you anticipate employees will respond to a stretching program?respond to a stretching program?

How will you encourage your employees as How will you encourage your employees as they take personal responsibility for their they take personal responsibility for their safety and health?safety and health?

Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Safety and Health Investment Project