Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a serious health concern for the NSW mining and extractives industry.
What is a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
The term ‘musculoskeletal disorder’ is an umbrella term for related injuries and disorders that can occur suddenly or over time. These include:
- sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons
- back injuries, including damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, nerves, joints and bones
- joint injuries or degeneration, including injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, hands and feet
- bone and nerve injuries
- soft tissue hernias
- muscular and vascular disorders as a result of hand-arm vibration.
Risks that can contribute to MSD
These hazards and risk factors can lead to the development of a MSD:
- awkward postures
- forceful exertions
- repetitive actions or duration
- vibration of hand or arm and whole body (including jolting and jarring)
- slips, trips and falls and other environmental factors.
The work health and safety (WHS) laws contain principles and requirements for musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention. The WHS laws set out the principles and requirements that apply to MSD risk management in the workplace. These laws require a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage risks to health and safety relating to a musculoskeletal disorder associated with a hazardous manual task.
For further information look at this fact sheet on musculoskeletal disorders management (PDF, 88.93 KB).