Study on Musculoskeletal Disorders Complicated Employer Risk Factors

Musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back and upper extremities are a costly national health problem, according to a long-awaited report by the National Research Council.  Scientific evidence links particular jobs, including those requiring repetitive and forceful motions, heavy lifting and stressful environments, with these disorders, the report states.  

"A magic bullet does not exist" for reducing (musculoskeletal disorders), but scientifically based prevention efforts can be effective in the workplace and can substantially reduce the risk of job-related musculoskeletal disorders," said Jeremiah A. Barondess, chairman of the panel that wrote the report and president of the New York Academy of Medicine. "However, the connection between the workplace and these disorders is complex, partly because of the individual characteristics of workers - such as age, gender, and lifestyle."

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released its ergonomics standard program in November.  Whether the new study will have any bearing on the many lawsuits filed against OSHA over its ergonomics standard has yet to be determined. 

Musculoskeletal disorders affect about 1 million workers and cost the United States $45 billion to $54 billion in compensation expenses, lost wages and decreased productivity each year. But the problem can be reduced with well-designed intervention programs, the report states.