Resources
There are up to date statistics on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (PDF) [95].
HSE has published a large amount of research material related to MSDs which can be found using our search function[96].
HSE tools
- Musculoskeletal (MSD) Online Assessment Tool[97]
- Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC) tool[98]
- Online tutorial on how to use the Manual handling assessment charts (MAC) tool[99]
- Variable manual handling assessment chart (V-MAC) tool[100]
- Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) tool[101]
- Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) tool[102]
- Full manual handling risk assessment: Examples of assessment checklists (PDF) [103]
- Upper limb disorders risk filter (PDF) [104]
- Upper limb disorders risk assessment worksheets (PDF) [105]
- Body mapping tool[106]
Other tools
Agriculture
- Manual handling in agriculture[111]
- HSG270 Farmwise (Section 21 on manual handling)[112]
- What a good farm looks like (PDF) [113]
- INDG125 Safe working with bales in agriculture[114]
- INDG317 Chainsaws at work[115]
Air transport
Catering and hospitality
- MSDs in catering and hospitality[117]
- Preventing manual handling injuries to catering staff (PDF) [118]
Cleaning
MSDs in cleaning[119]
Construction
- Manual handling in construction[120]
- HSG150 Health and safety in construction[121]
- INDG344(rev2) The absolutely essential health and safety tool kit for the smaller construction contractor[122]
- CIS26 Cement (PDF) [123]
- CIS57 Handling kerbs: Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) (PDF) [124]
- CIS77 Preventing injury from handling heavy blocks (PDF) [125]
- Construction occupational health case studies[126]
Engineering
- Engineering website[127]
- HSG129 Health and safety in engineering workshops (pages 20 to 24)[128]
- HSG246 Safety in the storage and handling of steel and other metal stock[129]
- INDG390 Choosing a welding set: Make sure you can handle it[130]
Food and drink
- Food and drink - manual handling[131]
- Food and drink MSDs[132]
- Roll cages and wheeled racks - Manual handling[133]
- HSG196 Moving food and drink: Manual handling solutions for the food and drink industries[134]
- HSG252 A recipe for safety: Health and safety in food and drink manufacture[135]
Health and social care
- Moving and handling in health and social care[136]
- HSG220 (Second edition) Health and safety in care homes[137]
- The guide to the handling of people National Back Pain Association[138]
- HSIS3 Getting to grips with hoisting people (PDF) [139]
Motor vehicle repair
- Manual handling in the motor vehicle repair industry[140]
- TRISAG (Tyre and Rubber Industries Safety Action Group) publications on tyre handling[141]
Papermaking, corrugated and recovered paper
Manual handling in papermaking, corrugated and recovered paper[142]
Ports and docks
- MSDs in ports and docks[143]
- Whole-body vibration in ports (PDF) [144]
- INDG446 A quick guide to health and safety in ports[145]
- INDG242 Control back-pain risks from whole-body vibration: Advice for employers (PDF) [146]
- INDG404 Drive away bad backs: Advice for mobile machine operators and drivers (PDF) [147]
Printing and publishing
Retail
- Manual handling in the retail industry[150]
- INDG439 Reducing manual handling risks in carpet retail[151]
- INDG269 Managing musculoskeletal disorders in checkout work[152]
- INDG470 Handling newspaper and magazine bundles[153]
Textiles
Manual handling in the textiles industry[154]
Warehousing
HSG76 Warehousing and storage – a guide to health and safety[155]
Waste and recycling
- MSDs in waste management and recycling[156]
- Manual handling in refuse collection HSL/2002/21 (PDF) [157]
- Manual handling in kerbside collection and sorting of recyclables HSL/2006/25 (PDF) [158]
- RR1141 Comparative analysis of manual handling practices in kerbside collection of recyclable waste[159]
- GEIS4 Conveyor belt workstation design[160]
Woodworking
Workplace transport
Public Health England (PHE) resources
Musculoskeletal Health – Applying 'All our health' (Guidance for healthcare professionals)[167]
Return on investment tool[168] including the following interventions:
Useful links
- BackCare [172]
- British Chiropractic Association[173]
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy[174]
- Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF)[175]
- Equality and Human Rights Commission[176]
- European Agency for Safety and Health at Work[177]
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine[178]
- Fit for Work [179]
- General Osteopathic Council[180]
- Getting help with manual handling risks in your business[181]
- Healthy Working Lives Scotland[182]
- Healthy Working Wales[183]
- National Back Exchange[184]
- NHS back pain guide[185]
- NHS Health Scotland[186]
- Royal College of General Practitioners[187]
- Royal College of Nursing[188]
- Royal College of Physicians[189]
- Society of Occupational Medicine[190]
- The Back Book (2nd edition)[191]
- USDAW Body Mapping[192]
Case studies
HSE's 'Risk-reduction through design' Award highlights how ergonomics–based design changes can reduce the risks of MSDs at work