Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational illness in Great Britain, affecting 1.1 million people a year (HSE 2005).  They are problems affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and other soft tissues.  They include symptoms such as lower back pain, joint injuries and various repetitive strain injuries, including upper limb disorder(s) affecting the arms, neck and shoulders.

The most up to date figures show that MSDs cost society £5.7 billion. MSD is one of the priority areas of the Health and Safety Commision to reduce work related MSD and the number of days lost at work due to MSD.  Not all MSD can be prevented, but early reporting of symptoms, correct treatment and rehablitaion are important.

What are the risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?

(MSDs) can be associated with the following factors:

•Work postures and movements,

•Repetitiveness and pace of work,

•Force of movements,

•Vibration

How are work postures and movements a risk for MSDs?

Any body position can cause discomfort and fatigue if it is maintained for long periods of time.  Standing, for example, is a natural body posture, and by itself poses no particular health hazards. However, working for long periods in a standing position can cause sore feet, general muscular fatigue, and low back pain. In addition, improper layout of work areas, and certain tasks can make workers use unnatural standing positions.

What activity within the workplace can contribute to MSD?

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

Most problems experienced by DSE workers do not arise directly from the DSE itself, but from the way in which they are used. Some DSE workers may experience aches and pains in their hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back, collectively known as 'upper limb disorders'. Most problems of this nature can be prevented by good workplace design and ensuring 'user' awareness of good working practices. A DSE ‘ user’ is someone who normally uses DSE for continuous /near continuous spells, and does so more or less daily; and needs to transfer information quickly; and needs to apply high levels of concentration. Fatigue from intensive DSE work can cause discomfort to even healthy eyes. Often DSE work can make people aware of an eye problem they did not know about. It does not help eyes if the DSE is badly positioned, or if the workplace is poorly lit. Drifting, flickering or jittering images can be very tiring and must be corrected.  DSE is covered under The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.

Portable Computers

Laptops and other portables have to be compact and easy to carry. The resulting design features, like small keyboards, can make prolonged use uncomfortable, unless steps are taken to avoid problems, e.g. by using a docking station. It is best to avoid using a portable on its own if full-sized equipment is available. Wherever possible, portables should be placed on a firm surface at the right height.  As a broad guide, your eyes should be the same height as the top of the display screen. And like other DSE users, people who habitually use a portable should be trained how to minimise risks. This includes sitting comfortably, angling the screen so it can be seen clearly with minimal reflections, and taking frequent breaks if work is prolonged.

What Employers must do

1.Health and safety training and information

Employers have to provide training, to make sure employees can use their DSE and workstation safely, and know how to make best use of it to avoid health problems, for example by adjusting the chair. Information should also be provided about DSE health and safety. This should include general background information - this could be done by giving out copies of the booklet Working with VDUs obtainable from the HSE.  It should also cover more specific details of the steps taken by the employer to comply with the Regulations, such as the action taken to reduce risks and the arrangements for breaks, arrangements for eye tests, arranging the workstation, etc. Information should reinforce 'user' training and therefore should cover the same issues.

2.DSE Assessments

In accordance with legal responsibilities, a workstation risk assessment must be carried out to identify any risks to the health and safety of 'users'. It is the responsibility of Managers to do these assessments, but they should only be undertaken by 'competent persons' (someone who has received adequate information, instruction and training). Risk assessment should be regarded as an on-going process, and should always be reviewed as soon as there are developments to suggest that they are no longer valid. As part of good management practice it is also advised that they be reviewed annually, or at more frequent intervals dependant on the nature of hazards or changes in the work activity

3.Sight tests, and provision of spectacles

Employees covered by the Regulations can ask their employer to provide and pay for an eyesight test. This is a test by an optometrist. There is also an entitlement to further tests at regular intervals; the optometrist doing the first test can recommend when the next should be. Employers only have to pay for spectacles if special ones (for example, prescribed for the distance at which the screen is viewed) are needed and normal ones cannot be used.

Further information can be obtained from the free leaflet Working with VDUs

Manual Handling

Manual handling covers a wide variety of tasks including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying. Poor posture and excessive repetition of movement when working can be important factors in the cause of injuries. Other factors including the weight of the load and insufficient space to work in can also increase the risk.  Manual handing is covered under The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

More than a third of all "over three day injuries" reported each year to the Enforcement Authorities arise from manual handling - the transporting or supporting of loads, by hand or by bodily force. Most of the reported accidents cause back injury, though hands, arms and feet are also affected.

Manual handling injuries can build up over a period rather than being caused by a single handling incident. These injuries occur wherever people are at work - on farms and building sites, in factories, warehouses, hospitals, offices, banks and while making deliveries.

The Employer should: -

•Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, as far as reasonably practicable.

•Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operation that cannot be avoided; and

•Reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling as far as reasonably practicable.

Employees should: -

•Make proper use of any lifting equipment provided for them;

•Co-operate with their employers on health and safety matters;

•Ensure their activities do not put others at risk.

HSE has also developed a tool called the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC), to help you assess the most common risk factors in lifting, carrying and team handling. You may find the MAC useful to help identify high-risk manual handling operations and to help complete detailed risk assessments. It can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/msd . MAC uses a numerical score and traffic light approach to indicate levels of risks and considers manual handlings as three types of distinct operations:

•Single lift operation

•Single carry operation

•Team handling operation

The assessment tool uses a flowchart approach, which enables you to evaluate and grade the degree of risk and therefore enable the employer/enforcing officer to determine the level of intervention. MAC is also considered to be a User Friendly tool.

Further information can be obtained form the Health and Safety Executive leaflet IND (G) 143 (rev1) Getting to Grips with Manual Handling - a short guide.

View the Lifting and Handling Checklist  24.5kb

Vibration

What is hand-arm vibration (HAV)?

Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers’ hands and arms. It can be caused by operating hand-held power tools, such as road breakers, and hand-guided equipment, such as powered lawnmowers.

When is it hazardous?

Regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration can lead to permanent health effects. This is most likely when contact with a vibrating tool or work process is a regular part of a person’s job. Occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health.

What health effects can it cause?

Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

What activities involve hand-arm vibration?

Jobs requiring regular and frequent use of vibrating tools and equipment and handling of vibrating materials are found in a wide range of industries, a few are listed here, however this is not an exhaustive list.

•concrete breakers/road breakers;

•cut-off saws (for stone etc);

•hammer drills;

•hand-held grinders;

•jigsaw;

•power hammers and chisels;

•powered lawn mowers;

•powered sanders;

•strimmers/brush cutters.

What do the Regulations require employers to do?

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to:

•Assess the vibration risk to your employees;

•Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are:

-Introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable;

-Provide health surveillance (regular health checks) to those employees who continue to be regularly exposed above the action value or otherwise continue to be at risk;

•Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are:

-Take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;

•Provide information and training to employees on health risks and the actions you are taking to control those risks;

•Consult your trade union safety representative or employee representative on your proposals to control risk and to provide health surveillance;

•Keep a record of your risk assessment and control actions;

•Keep health records for employees under health surveillance;

•Review and update your risk assessment regularly.

Further information can be downloaded from HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/