The National Safety Council (NSC) has released the findings from its 2024-2025 MSD Solutions Lab Research to Solutions (R2S) and MSD Solutions Pilot Grant programmes, highlighting new technologies and innovative approaches to preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), the world’s most common workplace injury.
The grant programmes are delivered through the MSD Solutions Lab, established in 2021 with funding from Amazon, and support the Council’s mission to save lives and prevent injuries by bringing together academic researchers and industry partners to develop practical solutions for reducing workplace MSDs.
To date, NSC has funded 35 projects and invested more than $1 million in scalable technologies and initiatives designed to improve worker safety.
University research delivers new solutions
The latest R2S programme produced a range of promising developments.
North Carolina State University developed and evaluated an augmented reality tool that enables workers to visualise ergonomic reach zones in real time.
Oregon State University demonstrated that lower back injury risk can be assessed using smartphone-based video analysis combined with machine learning.
Virginia Tech developed an artificial intelligence model that improved both the accuracy and fairness of biomechanical exposure assessments.
Wichita State University examined the use of arm support exoskeletons in construction environments.
Pilot projects test workplace technologies
The 2024-2025 MSD Solutions Pilot Grant programme enabled organisations to work with technology providers to evaluate computer vision systems, wearable vibration monitoring technology and sensor-based ergonomic assessment tools in real workplace environments.
Several pilot projects demonstrated promising results, including improved visibility of workplace risk factors, stronger worker engagement and more targeted ergonomic interventions.
Worker experience remains central
Across both programmes, the findings reinforced the value of combining innovation and data with input from frontline workers, reflecting the NSC’s commitment to placing worker experience at the centre of workplace safety.
Katherine Mendoza, Senior Director of Workplace Safety Programs at NSC, said: “MSDs impact millions of workers and cost employers billions of dollars each year.
“The findings from the 2024-2025 grant recipients demonstrate that emerging technologies can help organizations better understand workplace risks, engage workers and implement targeted solutions that improve safety outcomes.
“By empowering researchers and employers to explore and test new safety strategies, we’re advancing practical approaches that can be adopted and scaled across industries.”
