Are You In?

At NSC, our role is to help guide every employer toward a safer workplace, no matter if they are a multi-national corporation or a small, family-owned store. We are proud to advance this commitment through initiatives like the MSD Pledge 2.0, which expands access to our vast safety network and resources and better positions us to address MSD risks across different industries, jobs and demographics. Have questions? Read through the top program FAQs below or contact us at [email protected]. 

Why is NSC launching the MSD Pledge 2.0?

• MSDs aren’t just the most common workplace injury, they’re the second leading cause in shortening people’s working years, outranked only by mental illness and substance misuse.
• NSC was among the first organizations to sound the alarm on this omnipresent safety issue by launching the MSD Solutions Lab in 2021, a groundbreaking strategic initiative focused on reducing MSDs by engaging key stakeholders, conducting research, innovating solutions and scaling the results so all workplaces can benefit. 
• In June 2022, NSC unveiled its tentpole initiative: the MSD Pledge, which spurred a global employer-led movement to create safer workplaces and reduce MSD risk and injuries by 25% by 2025.
• Great progress has been made in the time since, with more than 170 organizations, representing over 2.7 million employees across every major global continent, joining this effort.  
• The MSD Pledge 2.0 represents an important next step in this journey by empowering all organizations committed to safety progress to join NSC and these charter pledge members at the table in addressing workplace MSDs beyond 2025.
  
  

How does the MSD Pledge 2.0 differ from the MSD Pledge?

• Like the inaugural MSD Pledge, this new initiative calls on organizations of all sizes to commit to the core goals of reducing MSD risk for millions of workers worldwide by analyzing the causes of MSD injuries and investing in solutions, leveraging innovations to improve safety practices and building a culture of safety accountability. 
• As a hallmark of the program, MSD Pledge 2.0 members will also have the unique opportunity to identify their own MSD risk-reduction goal over the next five years after signing. 
• Risk reduction is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and through the MSD Pledge 2.0, organizations are empowered to tailor their MSD prevention efforts to their organization’s specific goals, resources and priorities. 
  
  

How will NSC differentiate between the two pledges?

• Organizations part of the inaugural MSD Pledge include those that joined the pledge community prior to October 2023 and will be referred to as “charter members.”
• Organizations that join the pledge community after October 2023 will be signing the MSD Pledge 2.0. 
• While charter members will continue to collectively aim to reduce MSD risks and injuries by 25% by 2025, MSD Pledge 2.0 members will select their own MSD risk reduction percentage target to achieve over the next five years after signing. 
• NSC has a proven record of convening an unparalleled network of safety leaders to address the most complex safety challenges of our time, and we look forward to working with all organizations in our MSD Pledge community to fuel safety progress and reduce MSDs. 
  
  

Why does the MSD Pledge 2.0 emphasize risk reduction as a key metric instead of both risks and injuries?

• The goal of our pledge community, while ambitious, has always been simple: create safer outcomes for millions of workers worldwide by collectively reducing MSDs. 
• MSDs are cumulative injuries, meaning that what organizations do or don’t do today to prevent them, has the potential to impact their workforce, organizational culture and bottom line tomorrow.
• By honing the MSD Pledge 2.0’s focus on risk reduction, our pledge community stands to be better positioned to address the root causes of these life-altering ailments and ultimately create safer, healthier outcomes for all workers by preventing these injuries before they begin. 
• By enabling MSD Pledge 2.0 members to select their own risk reduction goal based on their unique resources and priorities, this allows us to increase access to the MSD Pledge community, so more employers can join this movement to help transform workplace safety, reduce MSD risk and enhance the physical and psychological wellbeing of all workers.
  
  

How will you measure success and monitor progress?

• In addition to accessing free resources to help them identify the most effective, impactful and practical MSD solutions for their organization, MSD Pledge 2.0 members will join MSD Pledge charter members in participating in the MSD Solutions Index.
• The MSD Solutions Index is an annual benchmarking survey, developed by NSC in partnership with academic and industry experts to measure members’ progress against their three main pledge commitments of risk reduction, innovation and collaboration, and safety culture. Also, while risk reduction is a key focus of the MSD Pledge 2.0, the MSD Solutions Index will still capture an organization’s injury progress. 
• What gets measured gets managed, which is why NSC designed the index to provide personalized feedback on what organizations are doing well and the areas of opportunity to strengthen their MSD prevention efforts.
• A significant benefit of the MSD Solutions Index is its ability to help NSC identify broader trends affecting MSD risk and prevention, so all workplaces may benefit from these key learnings.
  
  

Can charter MSD Pledge members join the MSD Pledge 2.0?

• Whereas the MSD Pledge aims to collectively reduce workplace MSD risk and injuries by 25% by 2025, the MSD Pledge 2.0 focuses on addressing MSDs beyond 2025.
• Specifically, organizations that sign the MSD Pledge 2.0 will identify their own MSD risk-reduction goal, and using NSC tools and resources, will commit to achieving this objective over the next five years after signing.
• We welcome all charter pledge members to join the MSD Pledge 2.0 after fulfilling their original commitments. 
• Safety is all about continuous improvement. Whether they’re a longtime member of our community, or just getting started, we look forward to continuing working with all organizations in our MSD Pledge community to fuel safety progress.
  
  

How can organizations sign the MSD Pledge 2.0?

• Beginning October 2023, all organizations committed to safety progress are encouraged to join NSC and charter pledge members at the table in addressing workplace MSDs by signing the MSD Pledge 2.0 here.