28% of all cases of work-related ill health in the UK in 2020/21 were due to musculoskeletal disorders, i.e. affecting approximately 470,000 workers, and resulting in 8.8 million lost working days (2019/20 data)(HSE ). The average cost to an employer of an absence of over 7 days for a health issue is £9,000 (2018 prices).
Our areas of expertise are:
Musculoskeletal disorders in particular identifying, assessing and controlling the risks of upper limb disorders and back pain, and advising on the management of those with these problems.
Office health and computer related ergonomics including compliance with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992) and avoidance of aches and pains related to computer use.
Manual handling, including risk assessment, risk reduction and compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
Workplace design and layout, ensuring that users’ interaction with their environment, furniture and equipment is optimised.
Driving and vehicles, ensuring that drivers have a vehicle that will help avoid discomfort, and that it is suitably adjusted for them.
Personal Protective Equipment selection – taking account of the human factors issues associated with the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure that appropriate PPE is selected.
Expert witness – Margaret acts as an expert witness in ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder cases.
We can:
Assess your ergonomic workplace risks including:
- Workstation assessments of individuals who experience discomfort.
- DSE risk assessments, including software usability.
- Ergonomics risk assessments, including ART, RULA, HSG60, as appropriate.
- Manual handling risk assessment, including HSE’s tools, MAC, L23, RAPP.
- Conduct body comfort surveys of a work areas to help understand where ergonomics / musculoskeletal issues exist.
- Assess drivers and their vehicles, to help reduce discomfort.
Advise:
- Provide relevant, practical advice to reduce risks, based on the assessments undertaken. Where appropriate, we will provide a prioritised action plan. Where assessments of an individual’s needs are undertaken, clear written advice is provided for the individual (e.g. on posture, how to use equipment etc), as well as the manager.
- Advise on the selection and use of alternative equipment, such as standing workstations, keyboards, mice and other DSE accessories.
- Advise on musculoskeletal disorder management programmes, including absence management.
- Advise on policies and procedures relating to DSE use and other work activities.
Train your staff in:
- Ergonomics risk assessment (including HSE tools such as MAC and ART)
- Ergonomic workplace design
- DSE workstation set up and use (for users)
- DSE workstation assessments (for in-house assessors)
- Manual handling risk assessments.