Harnessing Wearable Vibration Technology to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) represent a significant concern for workers across various industries. From construction sites to office desks, the wear and tear on muscles, bones, and joints can lead to chronic pain and long-term disabilities.
As businesses and individuals seek innovative solutions to mitigate these risks, the emergence of wearable vibration technology offers a ray of hope in the fight against MSDs.
Understanding Musculoskeletal Disorders
Work conditions that involve frequent use of vibrating equipment can significantly contribute to the development of MSDs and lead to irreversible damage.
A musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is classified as: “an injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints or cartilage, which can manifest into chronic conditions and connective tissue disease2.
Common examples include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and lower back pain. These conditions are often the result of repetitive motion, sustained awkward positions, or overexertion, making them particularly prevalent in workplaces involving manual labour or extended periods of sedentary activity.
So, how can employers take meaningful steps to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders?
In Canada, many jurisdictions do not have regulations explicitly addressing vibration exposure. At the same time, some have adopted occupational threshold limit values from agencies, including the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
In any case, employers must reduce the level of exposure to vibration because of the repercussions of ill-health effects and the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOSH), there are three ways to manage exposure to vibration in the workplace3:
1. Implementing engineering controls and adopting a more ergonomic approach
The ergonomic approach relates to ‘fitting a job to a worker’ rather than ‘fitting a worker to a job.’ Ergonomically designed tools, which are easier to operate, can reduce a worker’s exposure to vibration. For example, the tool's weight, grip, and shape are all design considerations contributing to this protection.
2. Implementing safe working controls to minimize the impact of working conditions known to cause WMSDs
Safe working controls aim to promote a culture of raising awareness and proactively mitigating that risk. Employers should encourage workers to take regular breaks when operating vibrating equipment and ensure their tools remain in good condition.
3. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Employers must ensure that PPE is being worn correctly and at the correct times. An employer is also responsible for ensuring that PPE functions properly and providing adequate protection.
A Modern Approach
These approaches for addressing occupational risk are well-established. However, their impact can be amplified with modern risk management technology.
Wearable vibration devices typically consist of small, battery-powered motors embedded in garments or accessories like belts, wristbands, or insoles. These devices deliver targeted vibrations at specific frequencies and amplitudes, which are customizable based on the user’s needs and the nature of their task.
Wearable vibration technology is versatile and can be adapted to various workplace environments, including construction, maintenance, forestry, foundries, heavy engineering, manufacturing, mining, and public utilities.
Reactec’s workplace wearable device, the R-Link watch, is designed to help workers monitor their exposure to risk from vibration in real-time. The watch uses a simple but highly effective alert system that notifies the worker when they’ve exceeded their personal exposure vibration thresholds.
R-Link is powered by Reactec’s Analytics, which gives employers a 360-degree view of their operating risk environment. Reactec’s Analytics constantly collects risk data behind the scenes and automatically transforms it into actionable insights that teams can use to adjust worksite behaviour and refine safety controls.
Crucially, recorded data on which tools were used, by which operators, and during specific time periods are displayed as intuitive reports and dashboards that make it easy for employers to quickly identify at-risk operators from exposure to vibration.
This unprecedented data level helps employers better understand precisely where action is necessary to ensure that workers aren’t at risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
The Future of Wearable Vibration Technology
Musculoskeletal Disorders are a growing concern in today’s workforce, but wearable vibration technology offers a promising solution. By leveraging the power of vibration therapy in a portable, user-friendly format, workers across various industries can protect themselves against the debilitating effects of MSDs. As more businesses recognize the value of this technology, we will likely see a significant reduction in workplace injuries and an improvement in the quality of life for workers worldwide.
References:
1). Cieza, A., Causey, K., Kamenov, K., Hanson, S. W., Chatterji, S., & Vos, T. (2021). Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 396 (10267), 2006–2017.
2). The definition and causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders. https://ergo-plus.com/musculoskeletal-disorders-msd/
3). Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace - Low Back and Upper Extremities National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2001. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace: Low Back and Upper Extremities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/10032/chapter/1