543,000 workers suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. 7.8 million working days lost. Yet most businesses still don't connect the dots.
The HSE's latest figures paint a stark picture: MSDs remain one of the biggest causes of workplace absence and long-term health issues across Great Britain. Back disorders alone account for 43% of cases, with upper limb and neck problems making up another 37%.
Here's what many companies miss:
Manufacturing production lines, construction, logistics and warehousing, and admin sectors show significantly higher rates than average. These aren't random statistics – they're preventable outcomes linked directly to manual handling, awkward postures, repetitive work and poor workplace design.
The business case for ERGONOMIC is clear:
Each MSD case averages weeks of absence. Multiply that by salary costs, temporary cover, reduced productivity and potential legal exposure. Prevention isn't just about compliance – it's about protecting your workforce and your bottom line.
What Ergonomics delivers:
Evidence-based workstation assessments
Task analysis for high-risk roles
Proactive intervention before injuries occur
Training that actually changes behaviour
The data shows we're back to pre-pandemic MSD rates. That's not progress – that's a missed opportunity.
Why specialist Ergonomics expertise matters:
Your Health & Safety team do vital work – risk assessments, compliance, incident management and policy development. Their broad remit is essential for workplace safety.
But Ergonomics is a distinct specialism. It's like quality control identifying a defect trend – they catch the issue, but you need the process engineer to redesign the solution. Ergonomists bring specialist expertise in workplace design, work process analysis and equipment specification – assessing task demands, individual capabilities and work environment factors to eliminate the force, repetition and awkward postures that cause MSDs.
It's not about replacing your H&S function – it's about complementing it with specialist expertise where it's needed most.
If your business operates in manufacturing, construction, logistics or any sector with physical demands, combining your H&S team's work with Ergonomics expertise is how you actually prevent MSDs.
Your H&S team are essential. For eliminating ergonomic risks and preventing MSDs, add an Ergonomist.
Source: HSE Health and Safety Statistics 2024 [Link: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/msd.pdf]