Some numbers related to sprain and strain injuries in the workplace

1. Ergonomics Injury Statistics
Strains, Sprains, Repetitive Motion Injuries

2. Prominent Accident Cause
Musculoskeletal Disorders are the #2 Cause of Lost
Time from Work (Behind the Common Cold)
in 1999, there were over 600,000 serious workplace
injuries caused by MSD’s
Overexertion and Repetitive Stress are not always
clearly distinct

3. Back Injuries
20% of all Workplace Injuries are Back Injuries
80% of all Back Injuries are to the Lower (Lumbar)
Back
Re-aggravation of Existing Conditions is Frequent
and often Presents as a “New” Injury

4. Costs
Workers’ Compensation Costs for MSD’s are
between $15-20 Billion Annually
Total Direct and Indirect Costs May Exceed $50
Billion Annuallly
Spinal Fusion Surgery can easily exceed $20,000

5. Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics