The National Safety Council (NSC) and its MSD Solutions Lab recently released results from organizations that have pledged to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Work-related sprains, strains, and similar preventable disorders are a common cause of discomfort that can lead to lost work time and disability.

WorkCare and more than 200 other organizations took the NSC’s initial pledge to reduce MSD exposure risk and injuries by 25 percent by 2025. A follow-up campaign (MSD Pledge 2.0) calls on organizations to continue their injury prevention efforts while building workplace cultures that value safety and engage in innovation and collaboration.

Findings from 52 organizations were reported in the NSC’s 2022-2023 MSD Solutions Index. For the 2023-2024 index, 44 organizations completed a survey to report results. (Download both reports here.) According to key findings, organizations with favorable index scores track leading indicators and:

• Incorporate environmental, organizational, individual, and other human factors in work processes
• Consider ergonomics in purchasing decisions
• Consistently provide appropriate ergonomic tools and equipment
• Ask employees for suggestions about safe work practices and take steps to implement them

WorkCare Gets Results

WorkCare is dedicated to supporting its clients and their employees from hire to retire. We provide injury prevention and healthcare guidance in person at the workplace and virtually via our 24/7 telehealth triage program.

In addition to taking the MSD prevention pledge, WorkCare’s injury prevention subject matter experts engage with the MSD Solutions Lab Advisory Council. One of our goals is to provide safety professionals with occupational health insights to create innovative and collaborative pathways for total employee health solutions.

WorkCare’s Industrial Injury Prevention Specialists have training and experience in sports medicine, MSD prevention and management, ergonomics, first aid, and health education. In 2024, they provided more than 79,000 on-site occupational and non-occupational injury prevention and management encounters in group and individual settings at selected client locations.

Among total encounters, 76 percent were preventive in nature. Services included ergonomic assessments, health and movement coaching, and wellness education to help employees build their physical and mental health resilience – on and off the job. Reactive services for physical discomfort included first aid and guidance on preventive maintenance.

Our 2024 results show that the timely management of MSDs produces favorable health and business outcomes. Among more than 5,600 musculoskeletal discomfort cases, we found that:

• There was an average of one prevention specialist visit per case
• 95 percent of cases seen by a prevention specialist closed within 14 days
• 84 percent of cases remained at the non-recordable, OSHA first-aid/self-care level
• Nearly nine out of 10 employees remained at work during recovery

Check out our website to learn about all the ways WorkCare deploys its medical expertise and best-in-class services in support of MSD pledge goals.