Listen to Your Frontline Workers to Close the Gap in Ergonomics Injury Prevention

October marks Global Ergonomics Month, a time to spotlight strategies that reduce workplace injuries and improve worker wellbeing. The National Safety Council is focused on preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the most common workplace injury, to ensure every worker goes home safe and healthy.

This year, the NSC MSD Solutions Lab is elevating an often-overlooked perspective: the voice of frontline workers. In September, we released the Frontline Worker Perspectives on Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention report. The research includes insights from 1,000 workers across industries, revealing a concerning gap between what leaders believe about safety programs and what workers actually experience.

What We Heard from Workers

• Nearly 30% of workers in pain don’t report it, often because they don’t know how or are unsure how it will help
• Most employees know safety programs exist, but many don’t understand MSDs or how daily tasks contribute to risks
• Fewer than 60% of workers always have proper ergonomic tools 
• Trust declines with hierarchy; workers trust peers far more than senior leaders

The report also highlights solutions. When workers help design equipment or suggest workflow changes, communication improves, trust grows and injuries decrease. This participatory ergonomics approach helps close the gap between leadership intentions and frontline realities.

Putting Workers First in Ergonomics

Global Ergonomics Month reminds us that ergonomics is about more than posture or equipment — it’s about listening. Frontline workers hold invaluable insights into risks and solutions, but too often their voices are missing from safety strategies.

The new report makes it clear: To reduce MSDs, employers must go beyond programs on paper and ensure workers are engaged, informed and empowered. That means:

• Making ergonomics a regular part of workplace conversations
• Building simple, trusted channels for workers to report pain early
• Providing consistent access to ergonomic tools and training
• Actively including workers in safety planning and feedback loops

Listen to Your Frontline Workers

As we recognize Global Ergonomics Month, NSC urges employers to ask: Are your frontline workers active partners in MSD prevention or are they left on the sidelines? Partnering with employees to shape solutions can reduce injuries, foster trust and build stronger safety cultures.