Musculoskeletal Disorders

MSD's (Musculoskeletal Disorders) are the most common form of occupational illness in Great Britain, affecting over 1.1 million people a year.

MSD's affect muscles, joints, tendons and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.

Risk factors causing MSD's can be found in virtually every workplace from commerce to agriculture, health services to construction. An estimated 11.8 million working days a year are lost to work-related MSD's

In 1995/96, MSD's cost society £5.7 billion (1995/96 prices).

Areas that can create a risk include:

• repetitive and heavy lifting
• bending and twisting
• repeating an action too frequently
• uncomfortable working position
• exerting too much force
• working too long without breaks
• adverse working environment (e.g. hot, cold)
• psychosocial factors (e.g. high job demands, time pressures and lack of control)
• not receiving and acting upon reports of symptoms quick enough

Information on the prevention and management of back pain is available on the HSE web site.

It is not possible to prevent all MSD's, but early reporting of symptoms, proper treatment and suitable rehabilitations can prevent or minimise the impact.