Musculoskeletal disorders: training for employees

1. Musculoskeletal disorders: training for employees www.ohtoolkit.co.uk

2. Contents • 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?

3. 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

4. What is the issue? • 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

5. What is the issue? Work-related MSDs When MSDs are caused or made worse by the work environment, they’re called work-related MSDs (WRMSDs)

6. What is the issue? MSDs can affect any part of the body, but two important areas in terms of work are: • the back • the upper limbs

7. What is the issue? 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

8. What is the issue? 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

9. What is the issue? 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 termedWRULDs

10. What is the issue? 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…

11. What is the issue? • 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

12. What is the issue? • 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

13. What is the issue? 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

14. What is the issue? 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... Source: www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html

15. What is the issue? • 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 Source: www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/rmirsi.html

16. What is the issue inour organisation?

17. Why should my employer 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

18. What are our employer’s 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

19. What are our employer’s responsibilities? • 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

20. What are our employer’s responsibilities? 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

21. What are our employer’s responsibilities? • 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

22. How could we deal with 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

23. What are myresponsibilities? • 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…

24. What can I do if I get back 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

25. What can I do if I get back 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 Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/workers.htm

26. What can I do if I get back 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 Source: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/workers.htm

27. Where can I find 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’