MSK disorders; regulations and little hacks
Posted on February 27, 2025
I’ve been reading a lot about back pain recently and its prevention because Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders have been in the news again recently. They are a major cause of work-related ill health and have a huge impact on people, their employers, the NHS and therefore the national economy.
According to NHS England: “Over 30 million working days are lost due to MSK conditions every year in the UK and they account for up to 30 per cent of GP consultations in England.
More than 20 million people in this country have some form of a MSK condition, it could be arthritis or back pain. Symptoms can include pain, stiffness, limited movement, and disability which affect not only their quality of life and independence, but also their ability to work.
Landmark initiative
In an effort to help tackle the problem, the government has launched what it calls “a landmark initiative” to speed up treatment for those enduring back, joint, and muscle issues amid lengthy waits for care.
It’s part of the Get Britain Working drive. So, a £3.5m pot is to be shared by 17 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England, focusing on boosting MSK services – that’s around £300k each. It’s better than nothing, given the demands on the public purse.
It makes sense too, because nearly three million Brits are currently ‘off or not working’ with health issues and according to the government MSK ranks closely behind mental health issues.
Some 646,000 individuals cite MSK as their primary health issue, while waitlists for treatment have nearly 350k people on them.
So what can be done? Firstly, both employers in tandem with employees must play their part in keeping these figures down. There are several laws relating to MSK disorders at work and employers and workers have responsibilities.
Employers’ duties
They have to protect those who might be affected by what they do and that means assessing the risks. Specific industries may have other regulations that affect them but the main regulations require employers to carry out a risk assessment on all manual handling tasks, repetitive work and awkward postures that pose an injury risk. Employers must:
- avoid hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable
- assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided
- reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling to as low as reasonably practicable
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations meanwhile set out what employers should do here, including:
- a DSE workstation assessment
- reduce risks, including making sure workers take breaks from DSE work or do something different
- provide an eye test if a worker asks for one
- provide training and information for workers
Then there’s exposure to whole body vibration through use of power tools and the like which can cause back injury and pain. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues, including lighting, floors, workstations and seating which can impact MSK health and they apply to most workplaces.
Workers’ duties
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act workers must:
- take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their work
- co-operate with their employer so they can comply with their health and safety duties
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations actually require workers to make use of equipment their employer has provided for them, in accordance with their training and The Manual Handling Operations Regulations supplement these general duties in the case of manual handling.
They require workers to follow systems of work established by their employer to reduce the risk of injury from handling loads.
No one of course wants back pain; it leads to a miserable life and can have a massive effect on mental health, but there are little hacks to help prevent it:
1. Stretch and warm up your muscles before any activity
2. Take breaks every 20-30 minutes to relieve pressure on joints and muscles
3. Change positions if you feel pain – adjust your chair or move around
4. Maintain healthy posture which minimizes unnecessary stress on your spine and muscles
5. Alternate activities to avoid repetitive movements or prolonged static positions
6. Lift with muscles of your legs, not your back
7. Get an adjustable or ergonomic keyboard
8. Use proper footwear to prevent strain on your legs, hips, and back
9. Practice mindful movements
10. Stay hydrated to keep muscles and joints lubricated and avoid cramps