Musculoskeletal disorders - Why tackle them?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational illness in Great Britain, affecting 1.0 million people a year. They include problems such as low back pain, joint injuries and repetitive strain injuries of various sorts.

The most up to date figures show that MSDs cost society £5.7 billion

In health services manual handling injuries account for 40% of absence from work through sickness.

There are over 5000 manual handling injuries reported each year which occur in health services. Approximately half of these happen during handling of patients.

Employees can be at risk of MSDs in virtually every workplace. You could be at risk if your work involves:

• repetitive and heavy lifting
• bending and twisting
• repeating an action too frequently
• uncomfortable working position
• exerting too much force
• working too long without breaks
• adverse working environment (e.g. hot, cold)

MSD’s can be made worse due to:

• psychosocial factors (e.g. high job demands, time pressures and lack of control)
• not receiving and acting upon reports of symptoms quick enough

Employers should take action to prevent or minimise the risk of MSD’s.

• The prevention measures can often be simple and are cost effective. See advice to employers
• You cannot prevent all MSDs, so early reporting of symptoms, proper treatment and suitable rehabilitation is essential.

• Guidance on back pain
• More guidance on musculoskeletal disorders