The British Safety Council (BSC) is supporting the Europe-wide campaign to tackle common workplace injuries which bring misery to millions of people.

The theme of European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2007, running from 22 to 26 October is ‘Lighten the Load’. The campaign aims to raise awareness of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), caused by lifting, repetitive strain, and other everyday working practices. Problems include back pain, work-related neck and upper limb disorders, including repetitive strain injuries and lower limb disorders.

In the run-up to European Safety Week, the BSC is organising courses throughout the UK which offer both employers and employees practical help and support in tackling the causes of MSDs, as well as dealing with the effect on both employees and businesses.

New Free On-Line Service

The week will also see with the launch of the BSC’s new free on-line health & safety assessment tool. This will allow smaller companies to check and benchmark their current performance against a full range of health & safety indicators without incurring the cost of appointing an external adviser.

Across Europe, one in four workers reported suffering from back pain in 2005, and MSDs are the most common of all reported work-related health problems, accounting for 53 per cent of such complaints. MSDs affect millions of European workers across all employment sectors and in Britain, work-related MSDs affect at least one million people a year.

The cost to companies, employees, their families and to society, is huge. MSDs not only result in high medical costs and lost productivity, but also cause chronic suffering for many workers.

BSC Courses Help Address MSD

Courses being offered by the BSC to help address causes of MSD include:

Level 2 Certificate in Manual Handling Risk Assessment: teaching how to carry out a manual handling risk assessment in line with HSE guidance
Level 2 Certificate in Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessment: aimed at anyone required to assess both the workstation and the working environment of employees who regularly use computer workstations.
Manual Handling - Train the Trainer: aimed at anyone required to carry out manual handling training including managers, supervisors, safety professionals, safety representatives and occupational health professionals

Adam Skeens, the BSC’s Director of Qualifications, said: “The BSC is emphasising the impact that effective training can have on reducing MSDs during European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2007.

“There is no single cause of MSDs. Poor working practices, lack of training, and simple carelessness all play a part, but the impact can be devastating on both employees, and on the business.

“Proper training for key personnel raises awareness of MSDs in the workplace and makes a direct contribution to employees well-being, as well as to the financial impact of MSDs on businesses.”

Email: sarah@mconieagency.com