What Causes Musculoskeletal Disorders?

     Due to the prevalence of these disorders, it is plain to see that a Musculoskeletal Disorder can occur in almost any profession with varying degrees; however, there are certain actions that cause these disorders, and certain jobs where the requirements of that job, create a greater potential for the impairments to occur.  The common causes of these disorders are as follows:

• Repetition- The Number one cause of Injury is repetition.  Repetition occurs quite often in the work force due the every day necessity simple action, such as typing or keying.  Also, repetitive injury occurs in many of the manufacturing plants / industrial areas where an employee is part of an assembly line and he or she performs the same task for an 8 to 12 hour shift.
• Force- The use of force is not necessarily the cause of injury.  Generally, the injury is caused by the improper use of force.  An employee will push or pull an object in a fashion that causes injury to their body.  Pushes or pulls that relate to injury are generally performed at a bad angle, differences of elevation, awkward positions, or performed with the wrong muscles due to lack of training.
• Posture- An employee whose job requires them to be bent over or placed at awkward angles repeatedly or for extended amounts of time runs the risk of injury due to the bad posture that he or she is forced to maintain.  Posture can also relate to the lack of adequate ergonomic consideration on the part of the employer.
• Cold- Prolonged exposure to cold without the proper protective gear can be harmful to an employee and detrimental to their health.  Proper safety wear should always be provided, as well as proper instruction and education as to how the protective gear should be utilized to maximize the safety of the worker and of the establishment as a whole.
• Vibration- Workers in the construction area of any area of labor / industry where employees are using power tools commonly suffer from disorders and injuries due to vibration.  Steps should be taken to ensure that employees are using the most up to date, available tools and that proper training is provided to the employee.