Manual handling



Musculoskeletal disorders (also known as MSDs), including back pain and RSI, have consistently been the most commonly reported type of work-related illness.


The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that the latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that in 2015-16:


• the number of people suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in the year was 539,000 out of a total of 1,311,000 (41%) of all work-related illnesses;


• the number of newcases of WRMSDs was 176,000, an incidence rate of 550 cases per 100,000 people. (The rate has been broadly flat over the last five years);


• an estimated 8.8 million working days were lost due to WRMSDs, an average of 16 days for each case and accounting for 34% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health; and


• agriculture, forestry and fishing, construction, transportation and storage and human health and social work activities have significantly higher rates of WRMSDs.


The occupations that have statistically significantly higher rates of work related musculoskeletal disorders are those in skilled trade occupations and process and machine operatives.