Musculoskeletal disorders: training for employees .

Musculoskeletal disorders:Musculoskeletal disorders: training for employees training for employees

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ContentsContents

• What is the issue?• What is the issue in our organisation?• Why should we deal with MSDs?• What are our employer’s responsibilities?• How could we deal with MSDs in our organisation?• What are my responsibilities?• What can I do if I get back pain? Do’s and don’ts• Where can I find out more?

What is the issue?What is the issue?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common

occupational illness in Great Britain, affecting 1 million

people a year

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm


• MSDs are conditions that affect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures, such as the discs in your back

• They result from one or more of these tissues having to work harder than they are designed for

• The symptoms of MSDs differ in severity – from mild and periodic, to severe, chronic and debilitating


Work-related MSDs

When MSDs are caused or made worse by the work environment, they’re called work-related MSDs (WRMSDs)


MSDs can affect any part of the body, but two important

areas in terms of work are:• the back• the upper limbs


Back pain• This is the most common MSD• The HSE estimates that 9.3 million working days (full-day

equivalent) were lost in Great Britain in 2008/09 through MSDs that were caused or made worse by work

• On average, each person suffering took an estimated 17.2 days off in that 12-month period

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/msdprogramme.htm


However…

• The HSE goes on to explain:

“Most people have back pain at some time. Usually the pain is not caused by anything serious and it settles within a matter of days or weeks.”

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/msdprogramme.htm


Upper limb disorders

• MSDs which affect the arm, hand, shoulder and neck are called upper limb disorders (ULDs). When these are work-related, they are termed WRULDs


Causes

WRMSDs are associated with work patterns that include: • fixed or constrained body positions • continual repetition of movements • force concentrated on parts of the body, such as the hand

or wrist • a pace of work that does not allow sufficient recovery

between movements continued…


• repetitive and heavy lifting • bending and twisting • exerting too much force • exerting a force in a static position for extended periods of

time • psychosocial factors such as low job control and isolation


• Generally, none of these factors acts separately to cause WRMSDs

• Most occur as a result of a combination and interaction between factors

• Heat, cold and vibration also contribute to the development of WRMSDs

Source: www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html and www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq.htm

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html


What are the signs and symptoms of WRMSDs?

• Pain is the most common symptom – sometimes joint stiffness, muscle tightness, redness and swelling of the affected area

• With ULDs, some people also experience sensations of ‘pins and needles’, numbness, skin colour changes, and decreased sweating of the hands

Source: www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html


WRMSDs can progress in stages from mild to severe

• Early stage: aching and tiredness of the affected limb(s) during work shift; disappear at night and during days off; no reduction of work performance

• Intermediate stage: aching and tiredness occur early in the work shift and persist at night; reduced capacity for repetitive work

continued...



• Late stage: aching, fatigue and weakness persist at rest; inability to sleep and to perform light duties

Recognising symptoms early can help prevent the problem from becoming more serious


What is the issue inWhat is the issue inour organisation?our organisation?

Why should my employer Why should my employer deal with MSDs?deal with MSDs?

• Legal – responsibility under health and safety law

• Moral – obligation as a good employer

• Financial – dealing with MSDs at work should reduce sickness absence levels

What are our employer’s What are our employer’s responsibilities?responsibilities?

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to secure the health safety and welfare of employees at work

• This includes providing a safe place of work, safe systems of work, and information and training


• The Management Regulations 1999 require suitable and sufficient assessments of health and safety risks at work to be carried out

• This includes assessing, eliminating and controlling the risks to the musculoskeletal system


The HSE explains…• The first step is to assess all the MSD risks your tasks

generate

• Next, try to eliminate as many of them as possible, by redesigning the tasks or providing mechanical aids

• The appropriate control measures can depend upon the sort of work your employees carry out and what it is ‘reasonably practicable’ for your company to do

continued...

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq.htm


• When considering precautionary measures, make sure that you consult your workforce as they often have first hand knowledge of the risks associated with a specific task or tasks

• Once the precautionary measures have been introduced, you should monitor their effectiveness and make sure that any new risks have not been introduced

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/faq.htm

How could we deal with How could we deal with MSDs in our organisation?MSDs in our organisation?

• Our employer needs to have a system for managing musculoskeletal risk in all parts of the business

• This will involve eliminating risk wherever possible, and assessing and controlling risk which cannot be eliminated

• Carrying out manual handling, display screen equipment and upper limb disorder risk assessments should make up part of this system

What are myWhat are myresponsibilities?responsibilities?

• You have a duty to take care of your health and safety• Speak up if you’re having a problem• Take part in the risk assessment process• Read management communications• Attend training• Help yourself…

What can I do if I get What can I do if I get back pain? Do’sback pain? Do’s

• Do stay as active as usual, if possible, but visit your doctor if you’re worried about the back pain or if the pain persists or suddenly gets worse

• Do take pain relief

continued…

Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/workers.htm

What can I do if I get What can I do if I get back pain? Do’sback pain? Do’s

• Do speak to your employer or your workers’ representative, your safety representative or a trade union safety representative who can pass on your issues to your employer and, if necessary, discuss what can be done to help you stay at work

• Do find out about back pain – a summary of good advice can be found in guidance booklets such as The Back Book


What can I do if I get What can I do if I get back pain? Don’tsback pain? Don’ts

• Don’t take to your bed and wait for the pain to go away – the sooner you get back to normal activity the better

• Don’t worry – back pain is rarely serious and unnecessary worry delays recovery

• Don’t avoid activity simply as a way of avoiding the pain – hurt doesn’t always mean harm


Where can I find Where can I find out more?out more?

There are a free leaflets from the HSE that explain about:

• upper limb disorders – ‘Aching arms (or RSI) in small businesses’

• using display screen equipment – ‘Working with VDUs’

• manual handling – ‘Getting to grips with manual handling’

Musculoskeletal disorders: training for employees .

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