Repetition and other
The risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) increases when the same parts of the body are used repeatedly, with few breaks or chances to rest. Highly repetitive tasks can lead to fatigue, tissue damage and, eventually, pain and discomfort because the muscles do not have time to rest and recover from the exertion. This can occur even if the level of force is low and the work postures are not significantly awkward.
The MSD risk associated with repetition increases as:
- The number or speed of actions increases;
- The muscles being used have to exert higher levels of force;
- The joints move farther away from the neutral position; and
- The length of time the task is done without a break increases.
Other MSD hazards and workplace factors that should be considered as possible risk factors for MSDs include:
- Contact stress
- An example of contact stress would be resting the forearms on the hard edge of a desk, which can also potentially cause damage to tendons, muscles, blood vessels and nerves under the skin.
- An example of contact stress would be resting the forearms on the hard edge of a desk, which can also potentially cause damage to tendons, muscles, blood vessels and nerves under the skin.
- Vibration
- Extreme temperatures