MSD Signs and Symptoms

 Painful aching joints, muscles

 Pain, tingling or numbness
 Fingers or toes turning white
 Shooting or stabbing pains
 Swelling or inflammation
 Stiffness or difficulty moving
 Burning sensation
 Pain during the night
 Numbness or a burning sensation in the hand.
 Reduced grip strength in the hand.
 Swelling or stiffness in the joints.
 Pain in wrists, forearms, elbows, neck, or back.
 Reduced range of motion in the shoulder, neck, or back.
 Dry, itchy, or sore eyes.
 Blurred or double vision.
 Aching or tingling. Cramping.
Others factors that contribute to MSD
1. Stress
Many work tasks and cycles are repetitive in nature, and are frequently controlled by
hourly or daily production targets and work processes can lead to stress. Stress when
combined with other risks factors such high force and awkward postures, can
contribute to the formation of MSD. A job is considered highly repetitive if the cycle
time is 30 seconds or less.
Control methods to consider:
 Engineering Controls – Eliminating excessive force and awkward posture
requirements will reduce worker fatigue and allow high repetition tasks to be
performed without a significant increase in MSD risk for most workers.
 Work Practice Controls – Providing safe & effective procedures for
completing work tasks can reduce MSD risk. In addition, workers should be
trained on proper work technique and encouraged to accept their responsibilities
for MSD prevention.
 Job Rotation – Job task enlargement is a way to reduce duration, frequency and
severity of MSD risk factors. Workers can rotate between workstations and
tasks to avoid prolonged periods of performing a single task, thereby reducing
fatigue that can lead to MSD.
2. Peer pressure
The nature of the culture itself may encourage over-exertion. Workers may feel
pressure from peer and supervisor to push beyond unreasonable limits. There are
work pressure and works schedule which may also encourage over-exertion.
3. Boredom
Boredom is a serious problem that can be associated to reduction of performance,
dissatisfaction and accidents. Job rotation can have a positive effects. Rotation
between different workers means they have sufficient skills and knowledge to
carry out the different assigned tasks. If workers do not have suitable training to
develop the activities, the organization must provide adequate training.