As you’re probably aware, the HSE conducts regular campaigns designed to improve specific areas of workplace health and safety. The latest of these is focused on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the construction industry, and will see the HSE carrying out 1,000 inspections of building sites throughout October and November.
MSDs affect over 40,000 construction workers a year. As the HSE’s principal ergonomist Matt Birtles explains, these conditions can have devastating long-term effects:
“Serious aches, pains and strains can affect every part of someone’s life. They can struggle to get themselves dressed and undressed, they can be unable to pick up their children or grandchildren.”
Construction workers are especially vulnerable, but MSDs can affect employees in any industry. There were almost half a million work-related musculoskeletal injuries reported in 2020/21, making them one of the most common occupational hazards. The good news is that with a few simple precautions many of these injuries can be avoided. We take a look at the common causes of MSDs, and what you can do to reduce the risk.
What are MSDs?
A musculoskeletal disorder is any injury that affects the body’s ability to move. This is usually caused by damage to the muscles, nerves or tendons. Some MSDs develop slowly as the result of continuous strain, while others can be triggered by a single movement. Common examples of workplace MSDs include carpal tunnel syndrome, neck strain and lower back pain.
What does the law say about MSDs?
There are several pieces of health and safety legislation that apply to musculoskeletal disorders:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to reduce all workplace risks as far as possible.
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require you to carry out a risk assessment on all manual tasks with the potential to cause injury.
- The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations make it your duty to limit the risk of injury to workers who regularly use computers and other display screen equipment.
What are the most common causes of injury?
There are a wide variety of factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. Common causes of workplace MSDs include:
- Crouching or stooping for extended periods of time
- Lifting heavy objects
- Pushing or pulling heavy loads
- Performing repetitive tasks with the same hand or arm
- Performing actions that require sustained or excessive force
- Working with computers or other display screen equipment
- Driving heavy vehicles over long distances
Many of these risks can be exacerbated by external factors. Putting unrealistic time pressures on employees, for example, or failing to provide them with sufficient breaks can significantly increase the chances of an MSD occurring. Some employees may also be more prone to injury than others. These include people with existing injuries, and anyone who is disabled or pregnant.
What can I do to reduce the risk?
When it comes to preventing MSDs, it is important to talk to your employees. Encourage them to report any physical discomfort as soon as possible, rather than waiting until they are in serious pain. You could also consider a regular body-mapping questionnaire. This will allow you to identify patterns in workplace injuries, and to focus your efforts on areas of concern.
As always, a solid risk assessment is vital. Your general risk assessment can include MSD risks, but you may also want to carry out specific risk assessments for manual handling tasks and DSE use.
Once you have identified the tasks most likely to cause MSDs, take steps to reduce the risk as much as you can. Possible actions include:
- Investing in ergonomic desks, chairs and keyboards
- Ensuring that employees take regular breaks when performing repetitive tasks
- Adjusting schedules to ensure that drivers have time for breaks during journeys
- Providing training on correct posture and safe lifting techniques
- Automating certain tasks that involve heavy lifting
Check in with your employees regularly to make sure that these measures are working, and be prepared to carry out a new risk assessment if the nature of a task changes. For help with risk assessments, or to book a training session, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
