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Musculo-skeletal injuries

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

See below for Upper Limb discorders, Back Pain, Pushing and Pulling, Display Screen Equipment

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problems, the most common cause of sickness absence and they are the most easily cured if caught early enough. Many problems can be prevented or greatly reduced by complying with existing safety and health law and following guidance on good practice. This includes assessing the work tasks, putting in place preventive measures, and checking that these measures stay effective.

Musculoskeletal pain can be caused by damage to bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves. Injuries are the most common cause but if no injury has occurred recently or if pain persists for more than a few days, then another cause is often responsible. Workers in precarious employment, such as those on fixed-length contracts, are also significantly more exposed to repetitive work and working in painful or tiring positions. Most work-related MSDs develop over time and are caused either by the work itself or by the employees' working environment.

Manual workers , whether skilled or unskilled, are most at risk from developing them but upper limb disorders - commonly known as repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) - affect women workers more than men, largely because of the type of work they do.

Upper Limb Disorders

The type of symptoms you should be particularly aware of are pain, aching, burning, redness or swelling. If you have any of these you should tell your manager, supervisor, health and safety representative or other workers rep as soon as possible. Don't panic if you are suffering symptoms. People with ULDs usually completely recover if the problem is recognised early and treated appropriately.

If you think you may be suffering from an Upper Limb Disorder (ULD) that may be caused or aggravated by your work there are things you can do to help yourself:

if you use a computer, make sure:

your chair supports your back and you sit up straight

your chair is the right height for you; if not use a footrest

your monitor is around 60cm from your eyes

your screen, keyboard and mouse are directly in front of you with the mouse as close to the keyboard as possible

when you type, your arms aren't extended forwards, your forearms are horizontal and your fingers are at the same height as the middle row of keys

your legs have room to move under the desk or table

you only use a wrist rest when having a break from typing - don't place your wrists on it while typing

Back Pain

Low back pain is common and can be extremely painful. It can be difficult to cope with the severe pain but fortunately it is rarely due to serious disease. There are things that employers and workers can do to manage back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), in the workplace. People can be helped to remain in work or helped to make an earlier return to work. You should take control of the pain by trying to stay active and continue as normally as possible.

In the early stages:

Rest may not help. Your back is designed for movement so the sooner you start doing your ordinary activities the better.

Use pain killers, heat or cold applied to the sore area may help.

A short course of manipulation can help relieve back pain for some, if done by a qualified professional osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor.

Next steps:

Steadily increase your level of activity.

Do a little bit more each day if the pain has been restricting your movement.

Do not stay in one position for too long.

Get up and stretch regularly.

Move about and take some walks, building up your activity as you get stronger.

Stay at work if you can to keep active and recover from the pain. If you have a lot of lifting or other risk factors in your job, talk to your supervisor or boss and tell them about tasks that will be difficult to begin with.

Even if the pain is particularly severe and you are off work, you can still try to do most daily activities or hobbies.

Don't do one thing for too long. Keep changing your activities so that you are changing position and moving around from time to time.

Pushing and Pulling

Pushing and pulling of loads is a way to avoid manual lifting and carrying of objects such as by putting the load on a trolley.

However, when people push and pull, for example trollies, there may be risk of other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which you need to consider and eliminate or reduce.

Although you may think that the Manual Handling Operations Regulations only apply to the lifting, lowering and carrying of loads, they also apply to pushing and pulling. This "pushing and pulling" guide should help you comply with the regulations.

Statistics on pushing and pulling from RIDDOR:

11% of manual handling - related RIDDOR accidents investigated by HSE involved pushing and pulling.

The most frequently reported site of injury was the back (44%).

Followed by the upper limbs (shoulder, arms, wrist and hand) accounted for 28.6%.

12% more accidents involved pulling than pushing (where the activity could be identified within the reports).

61% of accidents involved pushing and pulling objects that were not supported on wheels (e.g. bales, desks etc.)

35% of pushing and pulling accidents involved wheeled objects.

Display Screen Equipment

Display screen equipment (DSE) is any work equipment having a screen that displays information.

Computer workstations or equipment can be associated with neck, shoulder, back or arm pains, fatigue and eyestrain.

These aches and pains are sometimes called upper limb disorders (ULDs) or repetitive strain injuries (RSI). These problems can be avoided by following good practice.

Surveys have found that high proportions of DSE workers report aches, pains or eye discomfort. Mostly these conditions do not indicate any serious ill health, but it makes sense to avoid them as far as possible.

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations aim to protect the health of people who work with DSE. That does not mean that DSE work is risky – it isn't, if the user follows good practice like setting up their workstation well and taking breaks in intensive work.

The Regulations were introduced because DSE has become one of the commonest kinds of work equipment. So there is potential to make work more comfortable and productive for very large numbers of people by taking a few simple precautions. See above for what you can do to help yourself.