Impact of MSD in Ontario Workplaces 2023

  • 35% of all claims in 2023 were MSD injuries 
  • 80-90% of MSD injuries are classified as strains and sprains
    • This nature of injury has been the most prevalent and the most costly year over year
       
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Cost graph top 3 natures of injury 2014-2023 impact of MSD

 

Top injury causes related to ergonomics: 2023

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Pie chart showing 67%

#1 Overexertion 

Overexertion refers to a worker exceeding their body’s physical limits while completing a task. This includes overexertion while lifting, pushing, pulling, turning, throwing, etc.

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pie chart showing 31%

#2 Dynamic and repetitive movements

Includes injuries that occurred due to bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting, tool use, stepping down from something, or running.

 

Other injury causes include static postures (standing/sitting), typing or keyboarding, kneeling, and vibration exposure. These injuries account for ~1% of claims, and $1.5M in 2023.

Data for this poster was obtained from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). See additional information. 

MSD negatively impact everyone in the workplace

Impact on Workers: 

  • Time off work
  • Mental health
  • Impacts on daily life (e.g., family, recreational activities)

Impact on Employers:

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mannequin with MSD hazards no background
  • Decreased productivity and quality
  • Employee absences
  • Increased cost (e.g., training new workers)

These injuries can be prevented 

The primary MSD hazards (force, posture, and repetition) are directly related to the development of MSD. Learn more about how to eliminate or reduce MSD hazards in the workplace using the MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario.

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Impact of MSD Poster (1 page PDF)
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Additional information

The data used in this poster were obtained from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

Ergonomic related injuries are defined in the musculoskeletal disorder coding harmonization document.

22100 (overexertion in lifting), 22900 (overexertion, nec), 29000 (bodily reactions and exertion, nec), 22200 (overexertion in pulling or pushing objects), 22300 (overexertion in carrying, turning, or wielding objects), 22901 (overexertion in lifting and turning (object)), 29001 (bodily react, exertion lifting object and turning (body)), 22400 (overexertion in throwing objects), 22000 (overexertion, uns)

nec = not elsewhere classified
uns = unspecified

21100 (bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting), 21900 (bodily reaction, nec (stepping down from something)), 21700 (walking-without other incident), 21300 (running-without other incident).

nec = not elsewhere classified

  • Allowed lost time injuries or illnesses (LTIs) are claims by workers who have lost wages as a result of temporary or permanent impairment that was accepted as work related and granted entitlement to benefits.                                                                                                                               
  • Injury Event describes the manner in which the injury/disease was produced/inflicted and is based on the National Work Injuries Statistics Program (NWISP) coding standard (NWIS). 
  • This standard is based on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z795-96 codes which allow for more detailed coding injury details."                                                                                                                                     
  • Nature of Injury or Disease describes the principal physical characteristics(s) of the injury or disease. The principal physical characteristics of an injury/disease and based on the National Work Injuries Statistics Program (NWISP) coding standard (NWIS).  This standard is based on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z795-96 Coding of Work Injury or Disease Information coding standard. which allow for more detailed coding injury details.                                                                                                                                          
  • Claim costs include Loss of Earnings (LoE), Health Care/Labour Market Re-entry (LMR)/Work Re-Integration (WR), Non Economic Loss (NEL), Future Economic Loss (FEL), Worker Pensions and Survivor’s costs.