Early intervention and immediate corrective action

Helping an individual with an MSD

Immediate medical advice

Information about specific conditions

Advice for employers

Advice for employees

Addressing the workplace

Getting more help

On occasions, and in spite of your best efforts, some of your employees may develop an MSD. What should you do if this happens? You will need to deal with the individual and with the workplace.

Helping an individual with an MSD

The HSE explains that ‘MSD is a broad umbrella label for many types of aches and pains and treatment will be determined by the exact medical diagnosis. Most cases can be satisfactorily dealt with by your GP. Chartered physiotherapists can be most helpful in the assessment and treatment of these disorders. Occasionally, it may be necessary for your GP to refer you to see a specialist such as a consultant in orthopaedics or rheumatology.’

Immediate medical advice

Immediate medical advice is available in a self-help guide from NHS Direct.

Information about specific conditions

NHS Direct has specific information about back pain, as well as upper limb pain. On its best treatments website it also has information about how to treat back pain and upper limb problems such as shoulder pain, elbow pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Advice for employers

What can I do to help an employee with back pain?
The HSE states that ‘As an employer, you can do a lot to help any of your staff that report back pain. It is very important to be positive and helpful in removing obstacles to their recovery.’ Find out more…

The HSE has a range of advice about what you can do with individuals who have MSD symptoms.

Advice for employees

The HSE provides a list of do’s and don’ts for employees with back pain. Find out more…

Addressing the workplace

Having identified workplace risk factors via risk assessment (see ‘Preventive action and early identification’ section), there are some examples of control measures for various industries in the HSE’s free leaflets on manual handling and upper limb disorders and ergonomics. More information is also available in their priced publications.

Some useful tips can be found on the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website. The Peninsula Medical School literature review provides an evidence base for early intervention in sickness absence in the report Avoiding long-term incapacity for work: Developing an early intervention in primary care.

Getting more help

A number of organisations offer help and advice. These are listed below:

Workplace Health Connect is a free, no obligation service set up in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive that provides practical advice on workplace health and safety
The HSE Infoline is the HSE's public enquiry contact centre. Infoline provides access to workplace health and safety information, guidance and expert advice
Safe and Healthy Working has an advice line for small and medium-sized companies in Scotland. Their website also has useful resources that anyone can use
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work campaign 'Lighten the load' supports employers, workers, safety representatives, practitioners and others in improving MSD prevention in the workplace
Health for Work Adviceline for Small Business is a free service to help you quickly and effectively address the issue of employee ill health, minimise the impact of staff illness, and provide essential support to staff with physical or mental health issues