Quick question for you: Do you believe workplace safety and health promotion are an expense dragging down the bottom line? Do you think measures to prevent MSDs are costly?
If you answered yes to either of those questions … think again. The cost of preventive measures pales in comparison to the staggering human and financial cost of MSDs, the most common and costly injury category in the United States.
The first step
As they say, “A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.”
The first step on your MSD prevention journey is often about a decision you make. It’s a decision to get proactive – a change in mindset that makes all the difference.
This first step can be accomplished – first in your own mind, then later in convincing others in your organization – by understanding and demonstrating the value of a proactive MSD prevention process.
Ready for the first step?
Let’s get started by counting the cost of MSDs.
Infographic highlights
- MSDs are the leading cause of pain, suffering and disability in American workplaces.
- MSDs have a huge financial burden, but the human costs are the best motivation for prevention.
- MSDs account for one-third of all workers compensation costs.
- MSDs account for almost 400,000 injuries every year.
- Direct costs of MSDs are $20 billion a year. Total costs are estimated to be between $45-54 billion.
- Indirect costs (lost productivity, product defects, etc.) of an MSD case can be up to five times the direct costs.
- MSD cases require 38% more lost time days than the average injury/illness.
- Your company needs to generate over $8 million in additional sales to cover $260,000 in MSD costs.
Infographic: The Cost of MSDs
