WorkSafeBC Home Home

The effectiveness of workplace musculoskeletal injury risk factor screening tools for guiding injury prevention interventions: A systematic review

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) significantly contribute to pain, disability, and work loss, yet there is no comprehensive strategy for their management. While 19 MSI risk factor screening tools were identified, concerns about their effectiveness exist, as most were developed in laboratory settings rather than real work environments. A review of studies utilizing these tools in working-age populations revealed no high-quality articles and a general lack of consistency in outcomes. Many studies reported little to no effect, mixed results, or conflicting findings regarding the tools' efficacy. The current evidence suggests that relying heavily on MSI risk factor screening tools is not advisable for preventing workplace-related MSIs.

Principal Applicant: Douglas Gross (University of Alberta)
Co-applicants: Sebastian Straube (University of Alberta); Linda Miller (EWI Works); Carolina Cancelliere (Ontario Tech University); Liz Dennett (University of Alberta); Don Voaklander (University of Alberta)
Funding Awarded: $62,400 (Specific Priorities/Systematic Reviews)

Competition Year: 2020 File type: PDF (194 KB) Asset type: Research Research: RS2020-SP10