EMPLOYEE WELFARE APRIL 2020
MUSCLING IN
Musculoskeletal conditions are becoming
increasingly common in the workplace,
causing absence and a loss of productivity.
How can the physical world of manufacturing
mitigate against this?
BY MARK FLETCHER, CLINICAL DIRECTOR, PHYSIO MED
With figures from the Office for
National Statistics (ONS) revealing
that more than 28 million working
days were lost to musculoskeletal
conditions in the UK in 2018
(https://bit.ly/3aLPtRK), protecting
the physical wellbeing of employees has never
been more important. The manufacturing industry
is one of the UK’s largest employers, so ensuring
musculoskeletal disorders are kept to a minimum
in this sector is particularly important.
The cost of employees taking time off due to
musculoskeletal and mental health conditions
could reach £3.8 billion in the next five years,
while the cost of reduced productivity – also
known as presenteeism – is forecast to reach
£84 billion (https://bit.ly/38DOpOj), according to
data from the ONS and the Centre for Economics
and Business Research (Cebr).
The UK manufacturing industry employs
approximately 2.7 million people and, with the
average worker losing 4.4 working days to sickness
absence in 2018, the number of working days lost
within the industry totalled nearly 12 million.
It has never been more
important for employers to
safeguard the physical wellbeing
of their employees and take
proactive steps to reduce
instances of musculoskeletal
conditions (MSKs) in order to
reduce levels of absenteeism
and ensure productivity and
profitability levels aren’t
affected.
However, this is easier said
than done in the manufacturing
industry, where many job roles
are physically demanding and
injuries to the back, neck, upper
limbs and knees are common
The average
worker lost 4.4
days to sickness
absence in 2018
STEP 1
due to employees spending
significant periods of time
standing, carrying out repetitive
activities and operating heavy
equipment. In addition,
repeatedly bending, twisting
and lifting can cause tension
and stiffness which, if left
unattended, can develop into
more serious MSKs that may
require treatment.
While any workers that are
regularly required to lift and
carry will have undergone their
manual handling training, it
is vital to keep the advice and
guidance at the front of their
minds, so it is important that
managers remind employees
of the simple steps they can
take to help prevent MSKs
whenever possible.
● When picking items up or
putting them down, keep
backs straight, bend from the
knees and be careful not to
twist. Bending from the waist
puts strain on the upper back,
lower back and hips and should
be avoided.
● When carrying items, avoid
twisting and overreaching as
this can harm the lower back
and shoulders. Hold items
close to the body, bend at the
knees and move the feet – don’t
twist the back. Before carrying
anything heavy, prepare by
doing light back stretching
exercises first.
STEP 1 STEP 2
28 www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
/3aLPtRK)
/38DOpOj)
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk