Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are very common injuries in south african warehouse environments.
MSD’s are estimated to cost US businesses $1B a week!
Would you believe someone claiming that the cost to South African business is around R54.6m per week? Sounds unbelievable doesn’t it?
- MSDs are a major source of worker’s compensation claims, leading to substantial financial burdens for warehouses.
- Indirect costs, like lost productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism, can be several times higher than direct medical expenses.
- Workers with MSDs experience pain and discomfort, leading to slower work paces, increased errors, and reduced overall capacity.
- The need to train and replace injured workers further disrupts workflow and efficiency.
- A high prevalence of MSDs can create a culture of fear and anxiety among workers, impacting morale and potentially leading to higher turnover.
How does your business compare to the norm. Here are some red flags that might indicate you are at a higher risk to MSD losses than the average warehouse or business:
- Repetitive Tasks: Jobs that involve constant lifting, bending, reaching, or twisting without sufficient rest periods significantly increase MSD risk.
- Heavy Lifting: Frequent manual handling of heavy objects without proper lifting techniques or equipment is a major risk factor.
- Awkward Postures: Jobs requiring workers to maintain awkward postures for extended periods (e.g., overhead reaching, crouching) can lead to MSDs.
- Lack of Training: Inadequate training on proper lifting techniques, safe operation of equipment, and importance of proper posture all contribute to MSD risk.
- Work Quotas/Pressure: Pressure to meet unrealistic quotas or productivity goals can lead to workers rushing and neglecting proper lifting techniques.
- Uneven Surfaces: Uneven floors, wet areas, or cluttered walkways can increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls, potentially leading to MSDs.
- Poor Lighting: Dim or poorly placed lighting can lead to workers straining their eyes and necks, potentially causing MSDs in the upper body.
- Temperature Extremes: Working in very hot or cold environments can lead to fatigue and muscle strain, increasing the risk of MSDs.
- Vibration: Exposure to excessive vibration from tools or equipment can damage nerves and blood vessels in the hands and arms, leading to MSDs.
- Poor Workstation Design: Workstations that are not ergonomically designed to fit the worker’s body size and needs can put undue strain on muscles and joints.
- High MSD Rates: A history of high MSD rates within the facility suggests a systemic problem that needs addressing.
- Inexperienced Workers: New employees may not be aware of proper lifting techniques or safety protocols, increasing their risk of MSDs.
- Limited Worker Input: If workers are not encouraged to report discomfort or suggest improvements to work practices, MSD risks may remain unaddressed.
- Lack of Safety Culture: If safety is not prioritized and accidents/injuries are not reported and investigated properly, the risk of MSDs increases.
- Inadequate PPE: Not providing workers with proper personal protective equipment (e.g., back braces, lifting belts) can increase MSD risk.
- Insufficient Rest Breaks: Not allowing workers enough rest periods to recover from physical exertion can lead to fatigue and muscle strain, increasing MSD risk.
- Poor Incident Reporting: If workers are discouraged from reporting MSD symptoms or injuries, the true extent of the problem may not be known and addressed.
After that wouldn’t you agree that it is necessary to take pro-active steps to reduce the risks of MSD’s to your work force.
Video surveillance is a resource that can make a significant contribution to identifying these proactive steps.
Monitoring Work Practices:
- Identifying Unsafe Lifting Techniques: Cameras can capture workers lifting objects and identify those who might be using improper techniques like twisting, bending awkwardly, or lifting with their backs instead of their legs.
- Observing Repetitive Tasks: Analyzing footage can reveal jobs with excessive repetition that could lead to MSDs. This allows for job rotation or implementing rest breaks to reduce strain.
- Tracking Awkward Postures: Video analytics can detect workers maintaining awkward postures for extended periods, prompting intervention and ergonomic adjustments.
Encouraging Safe Behavior:
- Providing Real-time Feedback: Supervisors can use live camera feeds to provide immediate feedback to workers who are observed using unsafe lifting techniques.
- Identifying Training Needs: Video footage can reveal areas where workers lack proper training, allowing targeted training programs to be developed.
- Promoting a Culture of Safety: The presence of video surveillance can serve as a reminder to workers to prioritize safety and use proper techniques.
Data-Driven Insights:
- Identify High-Risk Jobs: By analyzing video data, you can identify specific tasks or workstations with a higher frequency of unsafe practices, allowing for targeted interventions.
- Track MSD Rates: Video analytics can be used to monitor areas where MSDs are frequently reported, helping to identify potential causes and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented safety measures.
- Measure Training Effectiveness: By observing post-training worker behavior on camera, you can assess the effectiveness of training programs in improving safe lifting techniques.
While managers and owners don’t always realise the full impact of MSD’s on their operations, they might consider intensive usage of video surveillance in this fashion as a waste or bottleneck in their business. The high cost, and severe impact on the bottom line from MSD’s though, definitely justifies increased attention and preventative action.
This is just one area in which video surveillance at you facility contributes to your bottom line.
