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Musculoskeletal disorders in the ports and docks industry

Dock workers carry out a number of activities which, if not properly managed, may lead to a variety of 'musculoskeletal disorders' (MSDs).

These include back pain and muscle injuries, and are often the result of poor handling techniques or  tasks involving repetitive movements and/or excessive force.

Injuries can also be caused by the vibration created by some vehicles - this is known as whole-body vibration. Further guidance on whole-body vibration[31] in ports is available.

Some people may not fully recover from MSDs and they can greatly affect your quality of life.

Where MSD hazards can be found in ports

  • Manual manoeuvring of lifting gear and attachments or slung loads
  • Handling of twist locks and unlocking poles
  • Lifting/manoeuvring of lashing bars
  • Breaking out pre-packed or palleted loads
  • Storage and warehousing activities
  • Hauling mooring ropes off large ships
  • Vibration transmitted through the seat or feet of employees who drive mobile machines such as ro-ro tugs and other similar vehicles, over uneven ground or on rails.
  • Use of pneumatic lashing systems

How the risks can be reduced

For manual handling:

  • Use mechanical aids such as motorised winches for hauling mooring ropes of large ships, vehicle mounted hydraulic hoists, portable roller conveyors, pallet trucks, scissor lifts and customised trolleys.
  • Consider whether a load can be changed to make it easier to carry, for example, smaller packages, providing handles or hand-holds.
  • Adopt safe lifting techniques.

For whole-body vibration:

  • Use appropriate machinery for the job.
  • Maintain plant and equipment, eg container cranes and rubber-tyred gantry cranes. Maintenance should include seats, suspension and visibility through windows.
  • Maintain roadways, quays, container park surfaces and rails.
  • Take account of vibration information when buying or hiring equipment.
  • Provide drivers with information on how to reduce risks to their health.

Which laws apply?

Link URLs in this page

  1. Ports and dockshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/index.htm
  2. Overview - Ports industryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/hse.htm
  3. Key industry stakeholdershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/stakeholders.htm
  4. Enforcing authoritieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/enforcing.htm
  5. Overview - Legal requirementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/legal-requirements.htm
  6. Dangerous goods - (DGHAR) https://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/dangerous-goods.htm
  7. Fishing vesselshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/fishing-vessels.htm
  8. FAQs on ports and dockshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/faqs.htm
  9. Overview - Freight container safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/containers.htm
  10. Freight container regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/regulations.htm
  11. Container design and manufacture approvalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/container-approval.htm
  12. Container examination schemeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/container-examination.htm
  13. RAIB - accident reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/raib.htm
  14. Overview - Topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/topics.htm
  15. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/transport.htm
  16. Lifting operationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/lifting-operations.htm
  17. Working at heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/falls.htm
  18. Dusty cargoeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/dusty-cargoes.htm
  19. Musculoskeletal disordershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/msd.htm
  20. Whole-body vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/vibration.htm
  21. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/slips-and-trips.htm
  22. Confined spaceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/confined-spaces.htm
  23. Overview - Access to vesselshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/access-to-vessels.htm
  24. Linkspans and walkwayshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/linkspans-walkways.htm
  25. Standards at quayside ladders https://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/quayladder.htm
  26. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/resources.htm
  27. Publications and guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/publications.htm
  28. Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/case-studies.htm
  29. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/statistics.htm
  30. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/links.htm
  31. whole-body vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/wbv/index.htm
  32. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2793/contents/made
  33. Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1093/contents/made
  34. Quick guide to health and safety in portshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg446.pdf
  35. Manual handling assessment charts (MAC tool)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg383.htm
  36. Musculoskeletal disorders https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm
  37. Whole-body vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/wbv/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

DGHAR
Duties under the Dangerous Goods in Harbour Areas Regulations 2016
RAIB
Rail Accident Investigation Branch

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Updated 2021-11-09