Effectiveness of a participatory workplace risk assessment team in reducing the risk and severity of musculoskeletal injury

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a participatory workplace risk assessment team (the intervention) in reducing the rate and severity of musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of 137 cleaners within a hospital setting. The date, workers' compensation claims cost and hours lost from work were obtained for each injury occurring during the 4-yr pre-intervention and 3-yr post-intervention period. The age, gender and hours worked during the study period, were ascertained for every cleaner whether injured or not. For musculoskeletal injuries, the intervention was associated with significant reductions of two-thirds in injury rate, 65% in workers' compensation claims cost per hour worked, and 40% in hours lost per hour worked. Cleaners also experienced a significant two-third post-intervention reduction in non-musculoskeletal injury rate; but the corresponding changes in severity rates were not significant. The intervention supports the adoption of a participatory approach to reducing the rate and consequence of musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.