Ergonomic Statistics

Statistics

According to OSHA, finding solutions to the problems posed by ergonomics hazard may be the most significant workplace safety and health issue of the 1990's. Dr. J. Donald Miller, recently retired Director of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), is quoted as saying, "that by any epidemiological criteria, occupational musculoskeletal injures represent a pandemic problem in the United States with gigantic effects on the quality of millions of peoples' lives every year." (30)

Repetitive Motion Illness or Cumulative Trauma Disorders represent almost 1/2 of all occupational illnesses reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ergonomic disorders including CTS, various tendon disorders and lower back injuries, are the most rapidly growing category of OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that of all occupational illnesses, musculoskeletal disorders rose from 18% in 1985 to 52% in 1989 and 56% in 1991. Though cost estimates vary greatly, it is believed that medical and workers' compensation costs of these disorders are estimated to exceed $100 billion annually. (19)
1% of the population has been estimated to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. (8)
Workplace illnesses associated with repeated trauma, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, accounted for slightly more than 60% of the new cases reported in 1991. (14)
Back injures alone account for more than 1/3 of all workers' compensation costs. (13)
For upper body cumulative trauma, the average cost per case is estimated at $15,400 (13)

From the National Council on Compensation Insurance, the high cost of workplace injuries is reported as:

Condition	Avg. Cost/Claim ($)	% of Claims
Back Strain	23,916	31
Other Strains/Sprains	13,611	19
Concussions/Bruises	12,055	11
Fracture	23,138	11
Puncture/Laceration	9,722	10
Dislocation/Crushing	47,249	3
Burn	12,833	3
Hernia	24,449	3
Infection/Inflammation	13,805	2
Amputation	40,249	1
Cumulative Injury	29,166	1
Occupational Disease	31,305	1

University of Maryland System, Cases and Costs for Musculoskeletal Disorders for FYs 1992/1993. information provided by the State of Maryland Injured Workers' Insurance Fund. Within the UM System, only 8 campuses reported injuries of this type.

Campus	# of Reported Cases	Total Cost ($)
University of Maryland	18	9,095
University of Maryland at Baltimore	15	5,644
University of Maryland Baltimore County	6	1,219
University College	3	291
Frostburg State University	1	250
Salisbury State University	5	11,563
Towson State University	3	2,604
Center for Environmental & Estuarine Studies	1	198

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