You’d think that acute workplace injuries such as falling from height are the biggest health hazards facing construction workers today.


But it is in fact chronic conditions that are now the biggest workplace health and safety issue of our time. Mental health conditions and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) now account for the vast majority of days lost to work- related ill health across the economy.


The latest HSE statistics show that an astonishing 7.1m days were lost to MSDs in 2024/25 alone. Separate figures from the NHS show that MSDs account for up to a third of all GP consultations.


In construction, the problem is particularly serious – MSDs, which include conditions like lower back pain and repetitive strain injuries, represent over 50 per cent of all work-related illness in the sector.


The rate of work-related MSDs in the sector is about 1.7 times higher than the average across all industries.


The economic impact on the sector is huge – work-related ill health in construction costs the industry £848m, with £646m (76 per cent) of this attributable to MSDs.


Behind every statistic is the devastating reality for individuals and their families whose lives can be turned upside down by an MSD.


“The impact on an individual can be life-changing,” said Unite national health and safety adviser Luke Collins. “In some cases, an MSD can end their career – the vocation that they spent years training for and mastering their craft. If you’re relying on those skills to earn your living and they’re suddenly lost, you could be forced into lower-paying work, and all the devastation that entails, like losing your home for example.


“Some people may never be able to work again. Sadly, trades people are often seen as disposable, so it’s an especially serious problem in construction.”


buildingWORKER caught up with Luke on the new MSD campaign which he is leading. Unite’s health and safety department decided that both mental health and musculoskeletal


disorders needed targeted campaigns, since they were the biggest contributors to workplace ill-health, affecting the greatest number of members.


It may come as a surprise to some that MSDs affect workers in all sectors, from office workers to taxi drivers to health staff and others. In construction specifically, the most common MSDs include hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and repetitive strain injuries.


HAVS occurs from the prolonged use of power tools such as grinders, drills and breakers. Sustained use can lead to nerve, blood vessel, and joint damage in the hands and arms. Symptoms include fingers turning white and becoming painful, especially in cold weather, as well as tingling, numbness and loss of sensation. HAVs can also lead to loss of grip and loss of the ability to perform fine motor skills.


Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in construction are often sustained after regular carrying, lifting or moving of heavy materials. They can also be caused by repetitive motions such as sawing, screwing or hammering, as well as through awkward postures, such as frequent working in confined spaces, reaching overhead or twisting.


Symptoms of RSIs are varied but often involve pain and stiffness in the back, shoulders, neck, elbows or other parts of the body. The pain experienced can range from lower-level chronic pain to acute and excruciating.


A common approach to addressing an issue like MSDs in the workplace is to simply blame the worker – that he wasn’t lifting properly, for example. But Unite’s MSD campaign emphasises that what causes or exacerbates an MSD in the workplace is complex, and it’s often down to poor planning.


“We need to challenge employers to design jobs correctly,” Luke explained. “We need them to consider what equipment is needed to not only make the job easier and more efficient, but what is needed to save workers’ bodies. The risk of MSDs could stem from workers’ rushing on the job. Then we must look at why workers are rushing. Is it because they’re under too much pressure? How can we alter the job to alleviate that pressure?”


31 unite buildingWORKER Spring 2026


Luke highlights that while many employers will have manual handling risk assessments in place, they’re often simply not followed.


“We’ve got to ask, are these organisations doing what they say they’re doing? Are the actions in their risk assessments being followed, or are they going the way of many employers – simply pumping some resource into getting systems in place, but then not doing anything about them?”


Unite’s MSD campaign is looking to tackle these problems head-on with a simple checklist that reps can take into their workplace. The checklist ensures processes are being followed to reduce the risk of workplace MSDs.


The beauty of Unite’s MSD campaign is its simplicity. The checklist, available on the website, is one of the many resources that form the backbone of the campaign.


There are also informational posters you can download and print, as well as links to information about claiming benefits if you’re injured.


The campaign is now lobbying government and employers for specific changes. These include the establishment of mandatory manual handling risk assessments with greater emphasis on hierarchy of controls; the call for manufacturers to design out the need for manual handling; and for all materials to be allocated a weight - with the requirement for clear stamping/weight display and centre of gravity marked.


Unite is moreover calling for the establishment of a tripartite forum with HSE involvement, as well as for the benefit system to be reviewed and to ensure all trades and occupations are eligible for support if they’re affected by an MSD.


Calling on all Unite members in construction to get involved in the campaign, Luke said, “We’ve only got one body. We’ve got to fight for it.”


FIND OUT MORE


Unite’s MSD campaign: bit.ly/4kLOfep


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