Musculoskeletal Issues

Introduction & context

• MSD’s including Manual handling

• One of most common causes of ill health in UK

• Major cause of sickness absence

• Can result in lifelong conditions

• Upper & lower limbs

• Repetitive Strain Injury(RSI)

• Frozen shoulder

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Techniques

Statistics HSE figures 2015/16

• 1.3 million working people suffering from a work-related illness

• 2,515 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2014)

• 144 workers killed at work

• 72,702 other injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR

• 621,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey

• 30.4 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury

• £14.1 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2014/15)

Statistics HSE figures 2015/16 (cont’d)

• Total number of WRMSDs cases in 2015/16 was 539,000 out of a total of 1,311,000 for all work related illnesses,

• 41% of all ill health cases

• An estimated 8.8 million working days were lost due to WRMSDs, an average of 16 days lost for each case

• Figures flatlined over past 5 years

HSE figures 2015/16 – MSD’s

• MSD issues cited as major workplace hazard (72%)

• Banking, insurance & finance (70%)

• Central government (58%)

• Education sector (24%)

• Health (42%)

• Local government (30%)

• Transport & communications (34%)

• Utilities (37%)

UK TUC Safety Reps Survey

• repetitive and/or heavy lifting• bending and twisting• repeating an action too frequently• uncomfortable working position• exerting too much force• working too long without break• adverse working environment (eg hot or

cold)• psychosocial factors(job demand, time

pressure) • not acting on reports of symptoms quickly

Risk Factors

• Lack of training & supervision

• Tasks not properly assessed

• No Risk ratings

• Poor or non-existent DSE Assessments

• Lack of or unsuitable training for manager/supervisor

• Lack of mechanical aids

• No proper maintenance

• Poor or no consultation with Safety reps

Cause and Effect

The task

• A newly built hospital had received reports from the nurses that the carpets made the mobile patient hoist far too difficult to manoeuvre. As a result the nurses stopped using the hoists.

Assessing the risk

• The nurses identified that the carpets were an important risk factor in the task. When a patient was occupying the hoist, the wheels sank into the carpet, making it difficult to move. The hoist's wheels were made from rubber, which is suitable for smooth and/or hard floors.

Case StudyNSW Health Service

The solution

• Consulting with the supplier they found it was possible to change the wheels of the hoist to a type that is more suited for use on carpets such as polyurethane. The required force to manoeuvre the hoist was reduced by approximately 40% due to the new wheels. The hoists were now used when necessary for moving patients.

Case StudyNSW Health Service – cont’d

• McPherson v Camden Borough Council (1999)

• Senior Admin Officer• De Quervain’s Syndrome• Workplace injury – tendonitis• No assessment or workplan carried out• Expert witness called (Rheumatology)• Breach of Regs 1,2 & 4 of DSE Regulations• Council found to be in breach• Court award of £98,000 to defendant • The injury should have been avoided

Case Study

• MH Risk Assessments

• Assessment charts (MAC)

• Instruction, supervision & training

• Policy & procedure on prevention

• Safe system of work plan’s

• Injury management

• Retention, rehabilitation & return to work

• Including appropriate use of OHP

• Legal compliance (RIDDOR etc.)

• Internal auditing

Prevention

• Confident & properly trained managers

• Staff feel valued & involved• Reputable OH provision• Use of early intervention techniques• Well designed & flexible jobs• Good management of common health

issues• Musculoskeletal disorder’s

Healthy Workplace Indicators ACAS

• Training & development of our Safety reps

• Ensure proper consultation & legal compliance

• Including the procurement of equipment & task/job design

• Ensuring workplace adjustments where required

• Dealing with Attendance management issues

• Body Mapping – identifying trends & hotspots

• Discussing & raising issue with the employers

• Local Safety committees

• Corporate Safety issue

• Legal advice & representation

Branch strategy

• Hse.gov.uk/msd/mac

• Hseni.gov.uk/prevention

• Arthritisresearch.uk.org

• hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr799

.pdf

• nhsinform.co.uk/msk/back

Further Information

Thank You!

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