LRD guides and handbook November 2023

Health and Safety Law 2023

Chapter 7

Manual handling

[page 101]

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including back pain, linked to manual handling have consistently been among the most commonly reported types of work-related illness.

HSE statistics show that, in 2021-22, work-related MSD cases accounted for 477,000 of a total 1.8 million (27%) work-related illnesses. An estimated 7.3 million working days were lost due to work-related MSDs, an average of more than 15 days for each case.