MSIs leading type of workplace injury in province costing $2.35B
Between 2020 and 2024, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 88,000 time‑loss claims for MSIs, representing about 30 per cent of all time‑loss claims in the province and more than a quarter of overall claim costs. Over that period, MSI claim costs exceeded $2.35 billion.
Complex injuries driving higher costs
The overall number of MSI claims has been relatively steady, but the financial impact is growing, said Sandeep Mangat, prevention field services manager at WorkSafeBC. MSIs can involve multiple body systems and often become chronic, leading to prolonged recovery times and higher claim costs.
“We’ve had about 88,000 incidents of MSIs… It almost accounts for 30% of all WorkSafeBC time loss claims and almost 26% of all claim costs,” Mangat said, adding that while the frequency is not sharply increasing, “the costs associated with the claims, because generally injuries are of a complex nature, those costs are getting higher.”
MSIs encompass injuries and disorders of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and blood vessels, including sprains, strains, inflammation, tendonitis, bursitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Many arise from what might appear to be repetitive, routine work: lifting, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions or working in sustained or awkward postures.
Broad impact across sectors and employers
WorkSafeBC’s release highlights that MSI claims span a wide range of industries, with higher concentrations in health care, retail, local government, restaurants, public schools and the skilled trades. Workers may experience long‑term or chronic disability, reduced quality of life and psychological impacts, while employers face increased absenteeism, turnover and premium costs.
Mangat noted that small employers are particularly challenged when it comes to implementing higher‑cost engineering controls and new technology to address MSI risks. “Small employers sometimes don’t have the means to really make that difference,” he said. “They can’t put in an engineering control or they don’t have the money to really make those modifications to make that job better suited to what the task is.”
Risk assessment and worker involvement key to prevention
Under B.C.’s occupational health and safety requirements, employers must assess the risk of MSIs in their workplaces and eliminate or minimize those risks. WorkSafeBC is urging organizations to systematically examine job tasks, with meaningful input from workers and joint health and safety committees, to identify where MSIs are originating.
Mangat said the starting point is a thorough hazard and risk assessment at the task level. Employers should “look at your different tasks and the different chores that workers are doing at the site, involve your health and safety committee… identify and do a hazard and risk assessment,” he said. Once risk factors are understood, employers can “deploy effective control measure[s],” such as reducing awkward postures, limiting twisting and over‑reaching, and building in short breaks or job rotation.
WorkSafeBC’s guidance also encourages employers to review first aid reports, claims data and incident investigations, and to speak directly with front‑line workers to understand how tasks are performed. Early reporting is a major focus, given that many MSIs develop gradually and may only come to light once symptoms become severe.
Technology helps, but education remains critical
Some sectors are adopting mechanical and ergonomic solutions to reduce MSI risk. Mangat pointed to health care employers using ceiling and floor lifts or two‑person lifts for patient handling, and greenhouse operations where adjustable carts and anti‑fatigue matting are used to reduce strain.
However, he emphasized that effective MSI prevention does not always require expensive equipment. Training workers in proper lifting techniques, keeping loads close to the body, avoiding unnecessary twisting and recognizing early warning signs can significantly reduce injury risk.
“Effective controls don’t always have to be involving a lot of money,” Mangat said. “If you engage the worker, show them how that task can be done… a lot of repetitive work is prevented.”
He added that workers should be encouraged to report early symptoms such as numbness, tingling, redness or swelling so that tasks can be modified and treatment accessed before soft‑tissue damage worsens.
Inspection focus and resources for 2026
MSI prevention will be a key inspectional focus for WorkSafeBC in 2026, particularly in sectors with elevated serious‑injury and time‑loss rates, including health care, construction, retail and transportation. Prevention officers will be looking at how employers assess MSI risks, implement controls and involve workers in ergonomics programs.
WorkSafeBC is directing employers and workers to ergonomics resources, lifting and handling guidance, and materials tied to Part 4 (Ergonomics – MSI Requirements) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Mangat encouraged employers to reach out directly for support. “We encourage employers to contact us, contact our officers and the local health and safety associations and ask for that help. And we are here to provide that,” he said.
By combining structured risk assessment, worker participation, targeted controls and timely reporting, WorkSafeBC says employers can help reverse the steady MSI trend and mitigate both the human and financial costs associated with these injuries.
