Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders Through Smarter Injury Surveillance

— By Paige DeBaylo PhD, research manager, MSC Solutions Lab, and Ram Maikala PhD, program technical consultant, MSD Solutions Lab

Workplace injuries remain a persistent and costly challenge, with musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs, being the most common type of occupational injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.6 million workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in 2023, and MSDs alone cost businesses in the private sector nearly $18 billion a year. Recognizing the pressing need to improve injury prevention strategies, the National Safety Council recently released a new resource, The Importance of Musculoskeletal Disorder and Related Injury Surveillance: An Organizational Approach.

Why Injury Surveillance Matters

Preventing MSDs starts with understanding why, when, where and how these injuries occur. Effective injury surveillance provides organizations with the data they need to identify risks early and implement targeted interventions before injuries occur or worsen. However, many organizations lack the reliable data collection and surveillance systems necessary to track injuries accurately. This gap can lead to underreporting, misclassification and missed opportunities for prevention.

This new guidance, developed by the MSD Solutions Lab – a groundbreaking NSC initiative established in 2021 with funding from Amazon – offers research-backed strategies to help organizations strengthen their injury surveillance systems. Key components include:

• Standardized recordkeeping: Clear guidelines on how to classify injuries consistently, ensuring that organizations can track trends and target prevention efforts effectively
• Best practices for system implementation: Organizations of all sizes can benefit from insights into how to develop and maintain effective injury surveillance frameworks tailored to their unique needs
• Leveraging emerging technologies: Explore how organizations can integrate internet of things, artificial intelligence analytics and automated data collection systems to enhance workplace monitoring and early intervention
• Real-world application: Interactive exercises and case studies to help safety professionals apply these strategies in their workplaces

Addressing Barriers to Injury Reporting

A significant challenge in injury surveillance is underreporting. Employees may have a lack of knowledge of reporting procedures or may be hesitant to report injuries due to fear of retaliation, job loss or concerns about being perceived as weak. This new NSC resource highlights the importance of fostering a culture of safety where employees feel comfortable reporting injuries and near-misses without fear of negative consequences. Additionally, organizations might not be familiar with how to report and navigate complexities in injury classification. MSDs often develop gradually over time, making it difficult to establish direct causation. By adopting consistent definitions and working closely with safety professionals, businesses can improve the accuracy of injury tracking and develop more effective prevention strategies.

The Future of Injury Surveillance

As workplace safety evolves, technology will play a pivotal role in advancing injury surveillance. Wearable sensors, AI-driven risk assessments and predictive analytics can provide real-time insights into workplace hazards. By embracing these tools, organizations can shift from a reactive to a proactive approach to injury prevention, which can help reduce underreporting. However, as the NSC guidance highlights, not all organizations have the resources to implement cutting-edge technology immediately, but that shouldn’t deter them. Smaller businesses can start by strengthening their recordkeeping practices, training employees on injury reporting and fostering a culture of safety awareness.

Take Action

MSDs are preventable, but prevention requires a commitment to data-driven decision-making. Organizations that invest in injury surveillance systems can reduce workplace injuries, lower lost workdays and worker compensation costs, and create healthier work environments for employees.

To learn more about this new NSC resource, join our webinar at 3 p.m. (ET) on March 11, 2025. Attendees will hear from experts on implementing injury surveillance strategies in their workplaces. You can also learn more about the MSD Solutions Lab and additional research to help us achieve our goal of preventing MSDs by visiting nsc.org/msd.