Managing MSDs

You should manage MSDs because:

• they are often painful and debilitating, and affect performance;
• there are measures you can take to prevent or minimise them;
• they affect large numbers of people across most industries and occupations;
• they have the potential to ruin people’s lives; and
• they impose heavy costs on employers and on society.

We suggest that you use the HSE guidance and available tools, through the links in this document, to assess and control the risks of MSD:

1. identify — determine the incidence of MSDs in your business with an estimate of what this costs you;
2. assess — evaluate the risk levels and record them;
3. plan — establish how best to minimise the risks;
4. implement — put your plan into action; and
5. monitor and review — establish how the project is proceeding against your original plan; find out why there are differences and amend your plan accordingly.