Muscle and joint problems, or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), are one of the leading workplace health and safety issues in Australia, accounting for more than half of workers compensation claims in 2020.1

Non-work related MSDs are also very common, with 90% of individuals experiencing back pain at some point in their lives and 3.6 million Australians living with arthritis.2

A musculoskeletal disorder is any condition that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, or the associated nerves and blood vessels. MSDs can occur suddenly or over time and are considered ‘work related’ if they occur through the course of employment or ‘non-work related’ if the occur through personal activities.

Common MSDs include:

  • back pain or injury
  • muscle strain
  • torn ligament or tendon
  • degeneration of a joint or bone, such as arthritis
  • nerve injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. Particularly if there is a poor match between the demands of the work and the capacities of the worker. Individual circumstances – age, gender, physical capacity, fatigue levels, genetics, general health. Psychosocial factors – evidence suggests that psychosocial factors are as influential as physical factors on the risk of developing an MSD. Psychosocial factors include things like poor job design, high work loads, low job control and workplace conflict. Work organisation – ability to afford high level controls, leadership support. Work layout – for improving work design and accommodating individuals with MSDs. Hazardous manual tasks – when you use the body to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any object, person or animal. Task invariability – doing the same work again and again without any variations in the body. Environmental issues – hot, cold, wet or slippery environments can reduce our overall physical capacity. Sedentary work – prolonged sitting, limited movements and muscle activity.

The factors in the image above combine in a way that magnifies their effect. For example, if an individual is repeatedly performing heavy work, with little control over when and how they perform their work (breaks, methods etc), then they are at an increased risk of sustaining an MSD. Therefore, it is important to address as many factors as possible to effectively prevent MSDs.

Preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders

The foundation of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) management and prevention is designing work that is inherently safe and that considers all relevant known and foreseeable hazards.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012, employers are responsible for reducing, so far as reasonably practicable, their workers exposure to hazards in the workplace. This means they must identify all hazards and manage all risks using the most effective means available. Workplaces should refer to the hierarchy of risk control when designing and implementing control measures for MSDs (safework.sa.gov.au/workplaces/work-tasks-and-projects/hazardous-manual-tasks).

A participative ergonomics approach which involves the workers to identify and analyse hazards and develop, trial and implement controls is a best practise approach and has been shown to improve both health and safety outcomes and productivity.

Employers should support this process by providing the appropriate knowledge, skills, tools, facilitation, and resources.4

Due to the complex nature of MSD’s, even with effective controls in place unforeseen hazards can still lead to the development of MSDs. It is important that workplaces are prepared to respond to support a worker by adjusting their work to accommodate their abilities.5 For MSDs, adjustments may include modifying the workstation, introducing flexible work arrangements or providing supportive devices/technology.6

If an MSD is work-related, then workplaces and workers must adhere to their obligations under the Return to Work Act 2014. More information regarding entitlements and obligations is available on the ReturnToWorkSA website.

Even if the MSD is not work related, employers are encouraged to consider reasonable adjustment so as to assist workers to remain productive to the benefit of all.

Actions you can take to prevent MSDs

A broad, integrated and systems approach to MSD risk management includes management support, high levels of worker participation, and accurate hazard identification.7

Healthy vision — create polices, practices and a workplace culture that prevents MSDs

  • Make sure workplace leaders commit to preventing MSDs.
  • Use the WHS legislation and associated codes, regulatory standards and related guidance information to help development of workplace solutions to prevent MSDs.
  • Develop a policy and procedure to identify and manage MSD risks in the workplace. The policy and procedure should be developed in consultation with workers and include: both physical and psychosocial hazards; outline access to appropriate and timely treatment; and provide suitable duties, claim lodgement and support for remaining at or returning to work.
  • Develop a policy and procedure for reasonably accommodating non-work-related MSDs that takes into account the health benefits of work and fosters an inclusive workplace.
  • Undertake job and task analysis to identify suitable duties for workers with MSDs while they recover at work.
  • Work with a certified professional ergonomist to support the design of systems (tasks, jobs, products, processes and environments) so that both the system and people can work effectively.

Healthy place — create a workplace environment that minimises MSD

  • Embrace the Principles of Good Work Design provided by Safe Work Australia.
  • Design the work environment to take into account the capabilities and limitations of the workforce using engineering controls, like using mechanical assist devices or changing workstation layouts.
  • Provide the right equipment for workers to minimise the risk of MSD.

Healthy people — support workers to minimise joint and muscle problems

  • Encourage workers to speak up about their concerns regarding MSD. This could be done at staff meetings, using posters, or through other communication channels.
  • Provide task-based training. This should include information, instruction and training in the tasks workers are required to perform so that they can get the necessary knowledge and skills to perform tasks safely. A clear message from the research evidence is that general manual handling technique training is not effective.
  • Develop an early intervention program. This program may include 3–4 sessions with a local physiotherapist or GP to get on top of MSDs early. Consider providing access for both work-related and non-work-related MSDs.
  • Provide regular access to onsite physiotherapy or exercise physiology.
  • Encourage workers to engage in physical activity and strength-based exercise by hosting walking groups or subsidising gym memberships. Workers who engage in exercise reduce their risk of work-related MSDs (see Physical activity for additional recommendations).
  • Encourage workers to get an early diagnosis and appropriately manage arthritis to decrease pain and improve function.

More resources to help you take action

Muscle and joint problem resource referral guide (DOCX, 493.5 KB)

Safe Work Australia has a model Code of practice – Hazardous manual tasks and good work design principles as well as webinars on MSD prevention.

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia Inc include information on work-related MSDs.

OHS Body of Knowledge for WMDs and Psychosocial Hazards has chapters with detailed information on MSD causes and control measures.

Arthritis Australia has information sheets, booklets and a support line available.

Latrobe University, Centre for Ergonomics and Human factors. APHIRM Toolkit - A participative hazard identification and risk management toolkit for MSDs.

Healthy Workplaces Good Practice Awards 2020–2022 – This booklet showcases awarded and commended good practice examples prevention and management of MSDs in the workplace.

1 Safe Work Australia (SWA), Statistics on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, SWA, 2016.

2 Arthritis Australia, Fast facts, Arthritis Australia, accessed October 2022.

3 Model of factors affecting MSD risk (based on model of Macdonald and Oakman, 2015).

4 O Brown, ‘Participatory Ergonomics’, In N Stanton, AN Hedge, K Brookhuis, E Salas and H Hendrick (eds.), Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics, Methods, CRC Press, 2005.

5 Australian Public Service Commission, Ability at work: Tapping the talent of people with disability, Australian Public Service Commission, 2007, viewed 16 August 2013.

6 Australian Government, Reasonable adjustments Information Sheet, comcare.gov.au, accessed October 2022.

7 J Oakman, S Clune and R Stuckey, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Australia, Safe Work Australia, 2019.