Managing work-related musculoskeletal disorders – socio-technical ‘solutions’ and unintended psychosocial consequences

Abstract

Conducting a well-designed observational study within a dynamic and vibrant workplace presents unique challenges. In the case of musculoskeletal symptom reporting, diffi culties of identifying appropriate interventions are amplifi ed by the multifactorial nature of contributory risk factors. We report on our own observations of how seemingly well-matched work sites can suffer unintended and differing psychosocial consequences from implementing “ergonomics” interventions. Despite the apparent similarity in the four garment manufacturing companies included in this study, one stood out in terms of its musculoskeletal reporting rate; approximately seven times higher than any of the other sites. After conducting extensive assessments of work systems and work practices, it was evident that management and organizational culture was having a signifi cant impact on the legitimacy and likelihood of symptoms reporting. Barriers to reporting were evident at the low incidence sites, but whether the high incidence site was a social amplifi cation of symptom reporting or stemmed from a more receptive climate of reporting remains unclear.