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Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Musculoskeletal disorders

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most commonly reported causes of occupational ill health in Great Britain.

They include disorders of the back, upper limbs and lower limbs, the former two being the most common. MSDs are prevalent in all sectors but agriculture, fisheries, logistics and transport, construction and health and social care have significantly higher than average rates. Both physical and psychosocial factors can contribute to work-related MSDs, and they can be aggravated by people's activities outside work and their general health and fitness.

Not sure what guidance you need?

Knowing what guidance to follow isn't always straightforward, so you can navigate the tabs below to help you choose what is best for your organisation.

Manual handling

Entry level

Manual handling at work: A brief guide INDG143. Available in print and online.
Making the best use of lifting and handling aids INDG398. Available online.

Risk assessment level

Manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) INDG383. Available in print and online.
Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) tool INDG478. Available in print and online.
MSD Digital online assessment tool. Online tool designed to simplify the process of completing assessments.

Legal guidance/reference level

Manual handling. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Guidance on Regulations L23. Available in print and online.

Training

NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Manual Handling Risk Assessment. A one-day qualification, based on HSE's best practice guidance and tools. This course will equip you with the knowledge to help recognise, assess and reduce manual handling risks in your organisation.

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Assessment. This course will equip you with the knowledge and tools to recognise, assess and reduce musculoskeletal disorders risks (manual handling and upper limb disorders) in your organisation. The training covers the suite of MSD risk assessment approaches including:

The Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC tool) for lifting, carrying and team handling tasks.
The Risk Assessment for Pushing and Pulling (RAPP tool) for pushing/pulling tasks.
The Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART tool) for upper limb intensive activities such as packaging, manufacturing, food preparations, etc.

These tools will help you understand and prioritise levels of risk of known ergonomics risks factors associated with manual tasks. Visit solutions.hse.gov.uk for more information.

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Upper limb disorders (ULDs)

Entry level

Managing upper limb disorders in the workplace: A brief guide INDG171. Available online.

Risk assessment level

Assessment of repetitive tasks of the upper limbs (the ART tool) INDG438. Available in print and online.
MSD Digital online assessment tool. Online tool designed to simplify the process of completing assessments.

Legal guidance/reference level

Upper limb disorders in the workplace HSG60. Available in print and online.

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Display screen equipment (DSE)

Entry level

Working with display screen equipment (DSE): A brief guide INDG36. Available in print and online.
Working with Display screen equipment (DSE) at home.
NEW - Good posture when using display screen equipment.

Risk assessment level

Display screen equipment (DSE) workstation checklist CK1. Available in print and online.

Legal guidance/reference level

Work with display screen equipment. Health and Safety (DSE) Regulations 1992. Guidance on Regulations as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 L26. Available in print and online.

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Homeworkers

Entry level

Homeworking. The basics for employers.

Risk assessment level

Working with Display screen equipment (DSE) at home.

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INDG143 Manual Handling at Work: A Brief Guide rev.4 (pack of 5) product image INDG143 Manual Handling at Work: A Brief Guide rev.4 (pack of 5)

£8.80

INDG383 Manual Handling Assessment Charts (The MAC Tool) product image INDG383 Manual Handling Assessment Charts (The MAC Tool)

£8.58

L23 Manual handling - Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 product image L23 Manual handling - Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

£21.10

L24 Workplace Health, Safety And Welfare product image L24 Workplace Health, Safety And Welfare

£21.10

L26 Work With Display Screen Equipment product image L26 Work With Display Screen Equipment

£18.00

INDG36 Working With Display Screen Equipment (DSE) A Brief Guide (rev4) product image INDG36 Working With Display Screen Equipment (DSE) A Brief Guide (rev4)

£8.25

CK1 Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Workstation Checklist (pack of 5) product image CK1 Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Workstation Checklist (pack of 5)

£14.65 (£17.58 inc. VAT)

HSG60 Upper Limb Disorders In The Workplace product image HSG60 Upper Limb Disorders In The Workplace

£22.88

HSG65 Managing For Health And Safety product image HSG65 Managing For Health And Safety

£29.30

HSG220 Health And Safety In Care Homes product image HSG220 Health And Safety In Care Homes

£19.80

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Also available from the HSE:

Manual Handling

INDG269 Managing musculoskeletal disorders in checkout work: A brief guide (PDF)

INDG171 Managing upper limb disorders in the workplace: A brief guide PDF (PDF)

INDG439 Reducing manual handling risks in carpet retail (PDF)

INDG398 Making the best use of lifting and handling aids (PDF)

Online tutorial on how to use the Manual handling assessment chart (MAC) tool

HSG196 Moving food and drinks: Manual handling solutions for the food and drinks industries (PDF)

Roll cages and wheeled racks

MSDs

Picking up the pieces: Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the ceramics industry (PDF)

General Guidance

Management of Health and Safety at Work

Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare