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1. Lighten the Load in Bradford Setting the Scene
Jenny Lawson
West Yorkshire Euro Info Centre
Thursday 18th October 2007
2. Overview introduction to the EIC
why European H&S Week?
lighten the load: manual handling & musculoskeletal disorders
EU law, guidance & good practice
3. Introduction to the Euro Info Centre based here in Bradford
part of a Network of nearly 300 EICs
provides information & advice on European legislation & policies affecting local businesses (including H&S)
helps firms do business in rest of EU
4. Why a European Week for Safety & Health at Work? annual initiative to highlight particular areas of H&S concern
year-long campaign culminating in the European Week
aims to raise awareness, spread good practice and improve occupational H&S
previous years: young workers, noise, construction, stress
5. European Week for Safety & Health at Work 2007 theme: Lighten the Load
aim: to raise awareness of and help prevent problem of musculoskeletal disorders
HSE leading in the UK
involves employers, workers, safety representatives & others
6. What are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)? Examples include:
back pain
joint & muscle pain / injuries
repetitive strain injuries
7. MSDs at Work Can arise in the workplace from:
manual lifting of heavy loads (e.g. on construction site, in a brewery or a care home)
pushing and pulling (e.g. in a factory, farm or hospital)
repetitive movements (e.g. on a production line or at a office workstation)
8. MSDs at Work cont. Other risk factors:
cold or excessive heat
pace of work
noise levels
stress
individual factors e.g. weight, age etc
9. MSDs at Work cont. most common work-related health problem in Europe (and UK)
across the EU, 24% suffer from backache; 22% have muscular pains
in new MS even worse: nearly 40%
1m people a year affected in UK
10. EU legislation, guidance & good practice general Directives on H&S at work and the workplace
specific Directives on manual handling, display screens, vibration etc
implemented via UK Regulations
11. EU legislation, guidance & good practice cont
fact sheets on MSDs (4)
guidance / good practice on prevention, rehabilitation etc
case studies (to come)
DVD (in your packs)
12. Further information OSHA website: http://osha.europa.eu/topics/msds
European Week website:
http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/
HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/
Euro Info Centre:
www.bradford.gov.uk/euroinfocentre