Musculoskeletal Disabilities

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 2006) one of the principal work-related causes of pain and disabilities in the place of work are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common medical problems in the U.S. as they affect 7% of the American population according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, 1997). These MSDs include problems such as lower back pain, joint injuries and strain on nerves, tendons, muscles and other structures supporting the human body due to repetitive motion. These disorders typically vary in severity depending on the strain and wear and tear the body has been put through. The NIOSH reports that industries with the highest rates of MSDs include the jobs that require the most amount of repetitive and forceful work, while another major factor in increasing the stress on our ligaments and joints is the nonstop work while in an awkward position which considerably increases the risk of injury and leads to fatigue much faster according to WorkSafeBC (1998). According to the research done by the National Safety Council (NSC, 2003) these workplace injuries resulted in billions of dollars in cost to Americans on medical expenses and money lost due to days missed from work. In fact in 2003 alone $156.2 billion were spent these injuries, injuries which included 4500 deaths and 3.4 million physically disabling accidents.
A job that is often overlooked in terms of how
We then will go through these reports and informational guidelines about occupational safety, published by organizations such as WorkSafeBC and the OSHA. After that we will collect and combine all the useful information we have gathered, and create our own guidelines and techniques for carrying large banquet