HCLG Support The HSE's Focus on Manual Handling

An estimated 42,000 construction workers reported suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder, which often results in aches, pains and discomfort in joints, muscles and bones. These can have a serious impact on workers’ ability to perform tasks; their quality of life; and in some cases, their ability to stay in work and earn a living. Many can and do suffer from long-term pain and discomfort.

Employers are required to provide their employees with health and safety information and training, including specific information and training on manual handling injury risks and their prevention to enable them to work safely.

As such, HSE inspectors will visit construction sites across England, Scotland and Wales in September and October to check that workers’ health is being protected from the risks associated with moving and handling materials.

They will look for evidence of employers and workers:

Knowing the risks.
Planning their work to eliminate or substitute the risks where possible.
Using the right controls where elimination or substitution of the risks is not possible.

Geraldine Brammer (HCLG's MSD Working Group Leader) commented;

"HCLG is supportive of HSE’s campaign, ‘Work Right Construction. Your health. Your future.’ as we know MDS’s can have a huge impact on our construction colleagues and their ability to undertake their roles safely. MSD’s also impact on our colleagues quality of life beyond the construction site, both from a physical and psychological perspective. Working collaboratively is imperative in supporting the understanding of MSD’s. Within the HCLG MSD sub-group, we are working towards producing campaign videos for the construction industry to raise further awareness and drive meaningful action to shift the acceptable level of risk around MSD’s in the industry. A united industry approach is an exciting opportunity ahead of us, showing joined up leadership which is meaningful and ultimately changes behaviours."

HSE Resources

The HSE have provided a wide range of information to help employers develop training and risk reduction plans to implement on site.

More information is available on the HSE Work Right Website.