Upper-Extremity Cumulative Trauma Disorders of Workers in Aircraft Manufacturing

Management of musculoskeletal pain in the workplace

Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable upper-extremity musculoskeletal pains or disorders account for a significant number of work-related illnesses in the US workforce. Although the concept of musculoskeletal disorder prevention is appealing, little has been done to demonstrate the successful application and benefit of these programs. In 1995, an aircraft manufacturer established a unique risk-management program for new employees based on the CtdMAP individual risk assessment instrument. In 1998, a subgroup was prospectively studied for medical management on the basis of individual risk scores. Outcome measures were compared for the risk assessment group, the matched control group, and the total company. Employer-estimated savings in direct workers compensation costs were $2.42 million, and estimated indirect savings were over $13.5 million during the study.

An outcomes study of an occupational medicine intervention program for the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders and cumulative trauma disorders in the workplace

Upper-extremity musculoskeletal pains or disorders (MSDs) account for a significant number of work-related illnesses in the US workforce. Although the concept of MSD prevention is appealing, little has been done to demonstrate the successful application and benefit of these programs. In 1995, an aircraft manufacturer established a unique risk-management program based on the individual risk assessment (CtdMAP) for new hires. The MSD intervention program was designed to prospectively evaluate each new employee for their individual risk of developing MSDs in the workplace. Before job placement, individuals at higher risk were assigned to a period of transitional work. Workers' compensation costs decreases per year were 16%, 3%, 24%, and 12%, while work hours increased by 56%. Employer-estimated savings in direct workers' compensation costs per year were $469,990, $678,337, $1,936,105, and $1,995,759.