Preventing MSIs Among New and
Young Workers Through Orientation
- Manu Nellutla, CCPE, CPHSA.
Executive Director,
Actsafe Safety Association
Work-related injuries affect the lifestyle
of the worker and also the productivity
of the company. Therefore, it is
important to identify the hazards and
train the workers on how to prevent
them, starting with orientations.
One of the most common types of work-related
injury claims are Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs).
MSIs make up approximately 35% of all claims
accepted by WorkSafeBC, with overexertion
being the top incident type with 27% of all
accepted claims (see Figure 1).
Improper training, and a lack of awareness
are the two main reasons why workers end up
overexerting themselves. This is especially true
in new and young workers who are either not
aware or not trained on how to conduct their
work in an injury-free way. For example, if a
new worker doesn't know how to lift properly,
they may overexert themselves instead of
knowing to ask for help. Therefore, it is very
important to inform and train these workers on
how to identify hazards that can lead to MSIs.
Orientation provides an opportunity to train
workers in not only the proper technique, but
also some of the ways to prevent MSIs. Some of
the tips to include during orientation to prevent
MSIs include:
• Inform the worker on the areas of work
where hazards leading to MSIs have been
identified.
• Teach workers the proper techniques for
completing their work, including lifting
techniques.
• Highlight the importance of stretching and
how it prepares the body for work.
• Encourage them to ask for help if they
cannot lift or move an object at work.
Figure 1. Claim count by incident type in Performing Arts and Motion Pictures, 2013-2017
Summer 2019 Edition: Orientation
Safety Scene 7