The National Safety Council (NSC) has released a guide to the surveillance of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the group announced February 24.

The report, “The Importance of Musculoskeletal Disorder and Related Injury Surveillance: An Organizational Approach,” was published through the MSD Solutions Lab, the NSC’s initiative established in 2021 with funding from Amazon to address work-related MSDs. The NSC’s new resource draws on 50 academic sources to provide practical guidance for preventing MSDs through effective injury surveillance systems.

Key features of the approach include the following:

• Standardized recordkeeping. Guidelines for consistent injury classification and data collection, helping employers better identify risks and target prevention efforts.
• System implementation. Best practices for designing and maintaining effective injury surveillance frameworks that adapt to an employer’s size and capabilities.
• Technology integration. Guidance on leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, and automated systems to enhance workplace monitoring and early intervention, with practical considerations for implementation.
• Real-world application. Use cases and interactive exercises to help employers effectively implement strategies in their own workplaces.

“MSDs are entirely preventable, and prevention starts with understanding where and how these injuries occur,” Katherine Mendoza, the NSC’s senior director of workplace safety programs, said in a statement. “This new resource equips safety professionals with research-backed strategies to identify risks early and take action before injuries occur.”

According to the NSC, MSDs remain the most common workplace injuries and are also some of the costliest. The NSC estimates MSDs cost private sector U.S. businesses nearly $18 billion a year. In its 2024 Workplace Safety Index, insurer Liberty Mutual reported that injuries from overexertion involving outside sources (lifting) cost U.S. employers $12.49 billion, injuries caused by awkward postures (“other exertions or bodily reactions”) cost employers $3.68 billion, and repetitive motions involving microtasks caused injuries costing $1.54 billion.

Without reliable data collection and recordkeeping, employers are challenged to prevent injuries, aren’t adequately prepared, and may not know where to allocate resources or begin developing mitigation and hazard-reduction strategies, according to the MSD Solutions Lab. The group’s guide highlights injury surveillance methods and common ways of categorizing and considering ergonomic injuries. The guide provides examples of injury cases and ways to categorize and record such injuries. 

An appendix to the guide contains sample data dashboards and injury recordkeeping forms employers can refer to when developing or refining their injury surveillance methods.

The MSD Solutions Lab recommended that employers focus on developing systems that work for them. Some employers may choose to record injuries on spreadsheets, while others may want to use sophisticated software or automated technology.

The MSD Solutions Lab stressed that proper training is essential for an effective injury surveillance system. Employees expected to work with the system need training on how to use it and how to interpret workplace injuries. The MSD surveillance guide includes exercises to help employees practice and better understand ergonomic injury classification.

The guide includes a discussion of emerging technologies like AI and IoT. The MSD Solutions Lab anticipates increased technologies available to assist employers in identifying and tracking MSDs.