Researchers Link Workplace Violence to Musculoskeletal Disorders

Study Overview

Workplace violence may be a significant but preventable contributor to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, according to a recent study from the National Safety Council and the University of Waterloo. A position paper published by the university’s Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders calls workplace violence an underrecognized MSD risk factor. According to Safety+Health Magazine, the paper states that workplace violence can contribute to MSDs through factors such as physical strain, stress and fatigue.

Shared Contributing Factors

Staffing, job design and poor safety culture are among the root causes that MSDs and workplace violence share. The paper notes these overlapping elements as key areas for examination in prevention efforts.

Management Approaches

The paper includes recommendations for managing workplace violence and its potential impact on MSDs. These include treating workplace violence as a potential MSD exposure during hazard identification, avoiding framing violence solely as a human resources or security issue, and establishing clear, blame-free reporting systems for workplace violence. Additional steps listed are ensuring timely organizational response after incidents to reduce prolonged stress exposure, providing access to psychological support services including employee assistance programs, and demonstrating genuine leadership commitment to safety and psychological health.

The authors write that integration of workplace violence prevention into MSD frameworks can result in improved risk identification, enhanced intervention effectiveness, and overall healthier, safer work systems. According to Safety+Health Magazine, the position paper evaluates policies intended to reduce workplace violence for downstream impacts on MSD outcomes.