FEATURE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & DEVICES


MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY


training, it is vital to keep the advice and guidance at the front of their minds, so managers should 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. • Repeatedly lifting heavy loads can


Mark Fletcher, clinical director at occupational physiotherapy provider Physio Med, which works with large employers such as the NHS and the John Lewis Partnership, investigates the issue of musculoskeletal conditions in the manufacturing industry and the ways in which they can be prevented


W


ith 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, 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 £3.8billion in the next five years, while the cost of reduced productivity is forecast to reach £84billion, according to data from the Office of National Statistics (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


28 JULY/AUGUST 2020 | IRISH MANUFACTURING


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 due to employees spending significant periods of time standing, carrying out repetitive activities and operating heavy equipment. While any workers that are regularly


required to lift and carry will have undergone their manual handling


Below: Mark Fletcher, clinical director at Physio Med


cause repetitive strain injuries to the knees and elbows, so always hold items close to the body and maintain a straight back at all times. Twist from the feet, not the back or shoulders, and never try to carry something which is a struggle to lift - get a colleague to help instead. Unfortunately, even when every


necessary precaution has been taken, MSKs can still occur, so employers need to provide support to staff to help them recover from injuries and then remain fit for work. With access to NHS physiotherapy via GP referral currently taking up to 14 weeks, one of the most effective options is to provide employees with access to an occupational physiotherapy provision that allows them to have any MSKs quickly assessed by a qualified physiotherapist, speeding up recovery times and reducing the risk of future injury. If that isn’t possible, there are simple


exercises that employees can carry out at work to ease any pain that occurs. These include:


LOWER BACK STRETCHES This simple exercise stretches out the tissue in the lower part of the back, alleviating pressure and stress on the area: • Sit in a chair and place hands on the


lower part of the back just above belt level • Arch the back and gently press in with


the hands to assist the movement • Hold the back in this arched position for two seconds, then return to the start


/ IRISHMANUFACTURING


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