Identifying high risk industry groups for work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Laval (Québec), 2005 – 2007

Aim: The objective of this study was to identify the top 10 of industry groups with high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). Methods: The study used workers’ compensation data ranked by North American Industry Classification System (three-digit NAICS codes) and Prevention Index (PI). The PI is used to prioritize industries for intervention purposes. It is the average of rank orders of each industry group’s claim count and claim incidence rate. Results: Of 93 industry groups in Laval, the ten industry groups with high risk for WMSD were : nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623), food, beverage and tobacco wholesaler-distributors (NAICS 413), specialty trade contractors (NAICS 238), general merchandise stores (NAICS 452), fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 332), machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333), plastics and rubber products manufacturing (NAICS 326), primary metal manufacturing (NAICS 331), hospitals (NAICS 622) and transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336). Conclusion: Conducting by those results, occupational health and safety resources may focus their prevention activities where they have the potential for greatest impact. Prat Organ Soins. 2011;42(3):169-77