Chapter 04 · People & supply chainsHuman Rights & Social Sustainability
Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD)
Definition
Cumulative trauma disorders are injuries of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that develop over time from repeated tasks, forceful exertions, vibration, or sustained awkward postures, rather than from a single accident. They form part of the wider family of work-related musculoskeletal disorders as defined by WHO (2003) and addressed in NIOSH guidance (1997); synonyms include repetitive strain injury and occupational overuse syndrome.
References
definition, WHO 2003 and NIOSH references
Overview
What it means
Chronic, build-up injuries — carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, back disorders — that are preventable through ergonomics but pervasive in assembly, agriculture and logistics work.
How it is used
The term appears in occupational safety programmes, workers' compensation, ergonomic assessments and social audits of supplier factories and farms.
Why it matters
CTDs are among the most common work-related health problems worldwide, making them a core social-sustainability indicator for labour-intensive supply chains.