MSK Workplace Toolkit part 2:

I have the privilege to be speaking in OH2017 Harrogate Convention Centre 25 - 27 April 2017 https://www.oh-2017.com/programme/  It is considered “The Premier Conference for Occupational Hygiene in the U.K.”   I will be the only speaker addressing MSK/MSDs in the workplace, their impact on employee health and on the bottom line of organizations.   These IOSH and BOSH conferences are famous for hard hats and steel toed safety boots, hazards to the eyes, lungs, potential cancer causing agents and serious injury prevention.  Rarely are their speakers presenting information about MSKs other than ergonomic approaches and those are quite rare indeed…but getting better every year.

Here are some valuable points from the presentation to help increase awareness of, as well as the importance of addressing, preventing and developing efficient and effective MSK intervention strategies.

By understanding the MSK “problem” we can find the “opportunity” hidden within: This is from the MSK Toolkit.

The following graphs come from a compilation of U.K. Department of Health research data. This is not in the “toolkit” but will be in the presentation to help  compare the numbers of workers affected with various conditions and the associated days lost in total and per case.   MSDs, Stress, Skin Disorders, Occupational Cancer, Inhalation Diseases. 

A cursory glance at these graphs should help you to have a more balanced perspective concerning MSKs relative to other occupational health issues. The total number of workers affected, the lost days of work that result and the mind-boggling economic loss of productivity.  A LOT of energy is being placed on “stress” in the workplace. I suspect because research is backed by pharmaceutical companies who stand to gain from pharmaceutical intervention strategies.   Research shows a direct link between MSKs and stress, but the argument is a bit of a chicken or the egg discussion.   A very high percentage of these reported cases are not only from industry or heavy labour but rather from sedentary workers sitting with poor posture.  MSK prevention and interventions do not have to be expensive and complicated, especially if addressed early. If you wait for sickness absence to force you to be treated for your neck or low back pain, you are doing a disservice to yourself and to your employer. Do you wait for a tooth ache to justify brushing your teeth? If your neck hurts while reading this, check in on your posture. Chronic poor posture causes the "slow injury" to ligaments, joints and muscles and may need a clinical intervention but does not justify missing work.

Gotchyaaaa….you just sat up in your chair. Look up, roll your shoulders up and back while taking a deep breath….let out a nice sigh….and repeat.  Feel better? Thanks again.