SUPERVISOR
WSPS.CA
130-BPS-11-IGOT © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
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Materials Handling & Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention
What Supervisors Need to Know
Anytime a worker must move materials, articles, or things there is a risk of injury
if they do not do it safely. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are muscle, soft-
tissue, joint, bone, and nerve injuries that may occur suddenly or develop over
time. It is important for supervisors to understand how these injuries occur,
and to ensure workers perform manual material handling tasks safely.
What causes MSDs?
Repetitive motions, awkward postures, heavy forces, and poor lifting, pushing,
pulling, or storage practices can cause MSDs.
MSD RISK FACTOR CONTROL RECOMMENDATION
Awkward Posture:
Neutral joint postures are those that reduce strain and
fatigue on the joints and muscles. Neutral posture is
standing straight, with arms at your sides. Tasks that
require movement outside of this position may increase
the risk of injury.
Monitor workers to identify situations involving
awkward postures. Engage with workers to help
them understand risks and determine how to handle
materials safely.
Repetitive Motion:
Doing the same tasks or movements consistently and
without rest can fatigue muscles and other body tissues,
especially if limited to specific muscles and joints.
When assigning tasks, try to include job rotation or
variety in the work to reduce repetitive strain.
Force:
The amount of effort required to lift, pull, push, or handle
items; higher forces place additional strain on muscles and
joints, increasing the risk of injury.
Whenever possible, use lifting equipment and devices
to move heavy or awkwardly sized items.
Note: Risk Factors can be cumulative; one risk factor increases the risk of an MSD – multiple risk factors can greatly increase the
risk of injury.
