MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI's), are among the most prevalent medical conditions in the U.S. today. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor has stated that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the nation's "chief occupational hazard" as it accounts for nearly 50 percent of all work related injured.

MSD injuries most often occur when there is a mismatch between the physical requirement of the job and the physical capacity of the human body, and the costs to businesses in terms of workman compensation and lost employee productivity are staggering:

		OSHA estimates that, in 1996, more than 647,000 American workers experienced serious injuries due to overexertion or repetitive motion on the job.
		In 1995, work-related musculoskeletal disorders cost employers between $60 and $80 billion annually in workers compensation claims and indirect costs.
		Recent research has concluded that upper-extremity MSD claims by workers average $21,453 each.
		Workers suffering from a MSD injury miss an average of 30 days of work as a result of that disorder.
		According to a 1995 OSHA study, the automotive manufacturing industry had the highest incident of MSD-related injuries of any other industry in the U.S. Other industries with assembly line functions will experience similarly high levels of MSD-related injuries.
		OSHA has determined that employers implementing ergonomic programs have had great success in avoiding MSD injuries, keeping workers on the job and boosting productivity and workplace morale.

Contact us for more information at 314-434-2888.