Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a serious health concern for the NSW mining and extractives industry. With musculoskeletal injuries accounting for more than 40 per cent of workers compensation claims, the hazards leading to these injuries were included in the NSW Health Working Party's list of contemporary priority health issues for the industry.

Profiles

The NSW Department of Industry and Investment has published two profiles on musculoskeletal disorders in both the coal and non-coal industries respectively, in addition to forming the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Project Steering Group.

• Musculoskeletal disorders profile - coal mining
• Musculoskeletal disorders profile - metalliferous and extractive mining

What is a musculoskeletal disorder?

Musculoskeletal disorder is an umbrella term for related injuries and disorders including:

• sprains and strains of muscles, ligaments and tendons;
• back injuries, including damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, nerves, joints and bones;
• joint injuries or degeneration, including injuries to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, hands and feet;
• bone and nerve injuries;
• soft tissue hernias;
• muscular and vascular disorders as a result of hand-arm vibration.

Based on research conducted in Australia and overseas, the key musculoskeletal hazards and risk factors in a mining and extractives environment include:

• awkward postures;
• forceful exertions;
• repetitive actions / duration;
• vibration of hand / arm and whole body (including jolting and jarring);
• slips, trips and falls and other environmental factors.

Musculoskeletal disorders can occur suddenly as a result of a single forceful action or develop over long periods as symptoms associated with minor tissue injuries are ignored, eventually resulting in a more serious injury. Many workers performing repetitive tasks or work of a similar nature fall into the longer-term category.

Guide to the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Mining and Extractives Industry

The Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) has endorsed a new guide called the Guide to the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Mining and Extractives Industry. This guide has been designed to help sites take planned preventative measures to deal with risks associated with musculoskeletal injuries. It includes practical examples, case studies, resources and easy to use tools. A major benefit of the guide is that it provides information and management processes that are consistent with regulatory requirements and world-leading practice and utilises capacities that already exist on-site.

• Guide to the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Mining and Extractives Industry

Mail Survey

In May 2009 a mail survey of NSW mines and quarries was undertaken to gather information about musculoskeletal disorders in the industry. Results of the survey are available below.

• Mail survey - full report
• Mail survey - summary report

Validation Workshop 

A validation workshop was held on 1 December 2009 to follow up the findings of the mail survey. Workshop participants included a mix of OHS professionals and managers, check inspectors, OHS committee representatives and employees.

The results of the workshop are available below.

• Validation workshop - full report
• Validation workshop - summary report

Training Package

This training package consists of a suite of tools to enable industry to deliver their own Managing MSD’s workshop. The training package will provide suitable trainers with sufficient information about ergonomics and risk management to allow them to adequately present training/ toolbox talks to employees for the management of MSDs. The training package is a support resource for the MSAC’s Managing Musculoskeletal Disorders Guide.  The package consists of:

• Facilitator’s Manual - provides suitable trainers with sufficient information about ergonomics and risk management for the management of MSDs.

• Participant’s Manual - is used as a workbook and future reference resource.

• Supporting Power Point Slides - to be utilised as optional resources for the facilitator.

The MSD Steering Group

The MSD Project Steering Group was formed by the NSW Mining Industry Health Working Party as a focus point for industry efforts to improve musculoskeletal disorder management. It includes members from government agencies, employer and union representatives and an independent musculoskeletal disorder expert.

The MSD program of work is moving from a data collection, analysis and consultation phase into an education, implementation and assistance phase. Subsequently the new NSW Department of Industry and Investment Industry Assistance Unit (IAU) will be more involved with the Project Steering Group and running the more hands-on implementation phase of the program of work.

Musculoskeletal disorders were an issue highlighted at the NSW Workplace Health and Safety Summit in 2005. The NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council published an Action Plan as the MSACs response to the summit which committed the NSW mining and extractives industry to steps to achieve the summit goals and the performance measures that will monitor its implementation.