Guidelines for Risk Assessment for Musculoskeletal Disorders
Korea Institute of Labor Safety and Health
2019
Ⅰ. Why these guidelines were developed
1. To take proper action against prevalent and serious musculoskeletal disorders
All workers live with musculoskeletal-related pain that is commonly referred to in Korean as “Gol-byong” meaning a serious and chronic illness.
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational illnesses in the workplace, with thousands of workers getting compensation from the government each year. This illness is prevalent across industries and occupations including manufacturing, construction, service, and transportation. Musculoskeletal disorders have various symptoms and affect the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, back, knees, and ankles, among others. They involve every moving body part essential to work and living. Even though it hurts, workers have to endure the pain because they have to work. This results in more pain.
According to data from the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, in 2017 among the 9,138 occupational illness victims, musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 56% (total 5,074) of the illnesses. Among workers with musculoskeletal disorders, approximately half of them (2,638 or 52%) suffered from back pain and the other half of them (2,436 or 48%) had some other physical burden. These musculoskeletal disorder statistics could be severely underestimated for two reasons: 1) illegal direct compensation to workers by employers are common, and 2) the government data only reports compensated cases and does not include workers that could not apply for compensation especially non-regular workers from small- and medium-sized workplaces. Taken together, the data indicate that the majority of workers are exposed to risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.
In addition, musculoskeletal disorders are characterized by wax and wane symptoms which eventually worsen. Therefore, it is important to detect and respond to the symptoms early before they get worse. Preventive measures are required by law because many workers are exposed to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and those that have them experience serious pain. These guidelines were made to respond properly to workers’ suffering caused by risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.
2. To change the workplace by implementing proper risk assessments
Musculoskeletal disorders are influenced not only by ergonomic risk factors but also by labor intensity. We need proper measures to deal with labor intensity. This includes dealing with faster work speed, increased workload, changed working methods, an insufficient workforce, and induced competition among workers, all of which prioritize increased quality, productivity and profits. A proper risk assessment for musculoskeletal disorders must include an assessment of labor intensity.
Organized struggles of workers, including fights for large collective workers’ compensation claims, have contributed to regulations with preventive measures for musculoskeletal diseases, including risk assessments. According to the ‘Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards,’ Chapter 12, “Prevention of Health Problems due to Musculoskeletal Risk at Work”, the employer should conduct regular inspections for risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders every three years in which workers and their representatives participate where there is work involving musculoskeletal burden. The conditions of the workplace, such as equipment, work process, workload, work speed, as well as working conditions including working hours, work posture, and working method, and signs and symptoms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders should be investigated. In addition to regular assessments, extra assessments are also specified. Appropriate medical treatments following an investigation of symptoms and an improvement of risk factors at the workplace should be made.
As the law stipulates, it is required to ensure that workers and union representatives participate in the assessment. Together they should develop a process to properly conduct a risk assessment for musculoskeletal disorders.
Risk assessment for musculoskeletal disorders should be an effective activity to prevent disorders. That means not only dealing with the disorders themselves but also improving the working conditions and work environments that cause them. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate work properly through the risk assessment and improve the workplace environment using the legal regulations as the minimum standards. In addition, it is critical that workers and unions participate in the assessment process and continue activities for improvement of working conditions with the empathy of fellow workers. Furthermore, it is important that all workplaces perform risk assessments since there could be gaps if small- and medium-sized workplaces do not do them.
We suggest specific investigation methods that can resolve the problems workers and trade union representatives face during the risk assessments, from the project planning process to measures to act on the results. Hopefully, this guide will assist all workers to make their workplaces and lives safer, healthier, and happier by preventing and dealing with their musculoskeletal disorders and improving working conditions.
Ⅱ. Contents
1. Purpose of developing the guideline
2. Musculoskeletal disorders
1) What are musculoskeletal disorders
2) The causes of musculoskeletal disorders
3) The characteristics and stages of musculoskeletal disorders
4) Common musculoskeletal disorders
5) Ergonomic risk factors by industry and main related task
3. The limits of current risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
1) Low rates of assessment, focusing on manufacturing industries
2) Perfunctory investigation to fulfil legal obligations
3) Assessments not leading to treatment and workplace improvement
4. Related legislation concerning risk assessment for musculoskeletal disorders
1) Risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders in current law
2) Improvements of the legal system related to risk assessments for musculoskeletal
disorders
5. Planning of risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
1) The basic principles in planning of risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
2) How to plan risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
6. Implementing risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
1) Preparation
2) Discussion between labor and management
3) Education
4) Site investigation for risk assessment
5) Reviewing the results
6) Discussion for follow-up actions
7) Proper implementation of follow-up actions
7. Risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders in specific cases
1) When a third party (investigative agency) conducts a risk assessment for musculoskeletal
disorders by a labor management agreement
2) When a union leads risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
3) When an employer leads risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
4) When an industry without experience conducts risk assessments for musculoskeletal
disorders
8. Tools for risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
9. To make a safer and healthier workplace
1) Proper risk assessments for musculoskeletal disorders
2) Improving the legal system related to risk assessments and strengthening the role of the
Ministry of Employment and Labor
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