What you need to do

Carry out a survey to measure the extent and nature of any musculoskeletal problems affecting staff and develop an action plan with staff to safeguard MSK health in your workplace.

Why this is important for you

Conducting a wellbeing survey is an effective way to help identify MSK problems. It provides immediate feedback so an organisation can respond straight away if an individual is suffering. Many workers suffer in silence as they don’t feel confident discussing their workplace health with their employer. Taking part in a survey will help employees gain confidence in discussing MSK issues, and will help employers identify and put measures in place for employees who are suffering with MSK issues.

How you can achieve this

A survey can help you identify staff who are struggling with their MSK health or chronic pain, as well as workplace risks and areas for action.

In addition to survey questions for staff, you may also wish to review sickness absence data, staff demographic data (to identify staff aged 50-64 at heightened risk of MSK issues) and carry out face-to-face engagement activities with staff to understand issues and suggest and implement solutions.

How you can show you have achieved this

• Copy of survey and results.
• Copy of actions taken.
• Sickness absence data for MSK conditions.
• Age profile data analysis for risk of future MSK conditions.

Toolkit – National Resources

Smart Work and Life provides tips and resources with reducing sitting time across the working day.

Public Health England release musculoskeletal diseases profile annually. It has been designed to bring together data on a single platform, to enable the commissioning of high value musculoskeletal services. Data are provided in a user-friendly format.

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance have resources on conversation starters for workplace discussions on musculoskeletal disorders.

NHS One You has resources on the following issues; stress less, eat better, alcohol, smoking, physical activities and sleep.

Active working provides individuals and organisations helpful tips and resources on how to keep themselves active and engaged whilst at work.

Get Britain Standing The campaign to grow awareness and educate on the dangers of sedentary behaviour.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work.

Understanding and managing pain: information for patients  The British Pain Society leaflet has a good description about pain and exercise p17-19, including a pain cycle diagram and very sensible explanations to help understand pain.

ShoulderDoc.co.uk - A website designed to provide information for patients and doctors on shoulder injuries.

Versus Arthritis - Advice on exercise to manage pain and arthritis. 

Versus Arthritis - Exercise sheets and videos for patients on:

• Ankle sprain exercises
• Back pain exercises
• Knee pain exercises
• Neck pain exercises
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shoulder pain exercises
• Elbow pain including tennis elbow
• Keep moving conditions for home exercises

ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.

What you need to do

Individuals affected by MSK issues or conditions are supported by managers and senior staff to develop individual care plans in relation to pain management and support them to remain in optimum health while in work.

Why this is important for you

Positive MSK health management is important and beneficial as it leads to significant savings that could otherwise be lost through sick pay, low productivity, and loss of key skills, retraining costs and legal costs and injury benefits. It is important especially for small to medium sized firms as they can be disproportionately affected through the loss of key staff for any period of time. By working with employees to identify risks and have measures in place to ensure optimal health - change of duties and flexible working patterns for example - will help to save money and ensure the health and wellbeing of employees.

How you can achieve this

Work based Care Plans should be developed and led by employees, with consideration of their individual MSK issues or conditions.  These should aim to consider the flare and remission nature of MSK conditions. Plans should create a responsive and flexible approach to job roles and responsibilities where appropriate, allowing those with MSK conditions to work at times and locations which suit them best.

Plans could include changing duties, rotating tasks with colleagues, virtual meetings, flexible working patterns, more time for travel and extra breaks. Technology can also be used to support flexible working, with laptops and IT systems used to facilitate working remotely.

Online resources could be used by managers or employees to develop care plans. For example ‘My Healthspan’ offers a personalised health assessment and coaching programme for employees with a significant MSK condition.

How you can show you have achieved this

• Copies of completed care plans.
• Verbal discussions with staff.

Toolkit - National Resources

Lupus UK have guidance for employers on how to support staff with such conditions.

The NHS have guidance on common musculoskeletal problems.

Public Health England release musculoskeletal diseases profile annually. It has been designed to bring together data on a single platform, to enable the commissioning of high value musculoskeletal services. Data are provided in a user-friendly format.

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society have guidance for employers.

Arthritis UK guide to living with arthritis.

For a more in-depth look at how to improve musculoskeletal health in the workplace, see this toolkit from Business in the Community.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work such as desk exercises.

MSK guide to help employers support homeworkers from BHSF.

The British Dietetic Association has created a Thrive at Work page which includes resources that will help you fulfil this criteria and others.

NHS One You has resources on the following issues; stress less, eat better, alcohol, smoking, physical activities and sleep.

NHS has information on pain management (including support groups) and helpful tips with living with pain.

British Pain Society has information for people with pain and how to manage it.

There is also a MSK knowledge hub was set up by ARMA and NHS England for MSK Community and building relationships between the community.

The ESCAPE-pain app and website has helpful tips and advice.

The BHSF has a guide to help employers support homeworkers with musculoskeletal issues.

Smart Work and Life provides tips and resources with reducing sitting time across the working day.

Active working provides individuals and organisations helpful tips and resources on how to keep themselves active and engaged whilst at work.

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance have resources on conversation starters for workplace discussions on musculoskeletal disorders.

Get Britain Standing  is a campaign to grow awareness and educate on the dangers of sedentary behaviour.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work.

Understanding and managing pain: information for patients The British Pain Society leaflet has a good description about pain and exercise p17-19, including a pain cycle diagram and very sensible explanations to help understand pain.

ShoulderDoc.co.uk is a website designed to provide information for patients and doctors on shoulder injuries.

Versus Arthritis - Advice on exercise to manage pain and arthritis. 

Versus Arthritis - Exercise sheets and videos for patients on:

• Ankle sprain exercises
• Back pain exercises
• Knee pain exercises
• Neck pain exercises
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shoulder pain exercises
• Elbow pain including tennis elbow
• Keep moving conditions for home exercises

ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.

What you need to do

Provide physiotherapy services for staff affected by MSK conditions.

Why this is important for you

Evidence submitted to the government shows that physio interventions are effective in reducing sickness absence and helping people stay in or return to work, and research suggests that providing in-house physiotherapy saves the company money and reduces time off work. A case study by the HSE showed that introducing in-house physiotherapy reduced the cost to the business by over 80% because it provided the employee with rapid, specialist, treatment meaning he was able to return to work within six weeks compared to over six months. Treating this one episode of illness alone recovered the cost of the service for that year.

How you can achieve this

Managers should advise and support employees to visit their GP or another health care professional within the field of MSK. This could be through a private health scheme the employer may have in place. Those employees in particular need of treatment should be fast tracked for initial consultation.

Additionally managers should be aware of what is available and accessible within their area, for example first contact or physiotherapy triage services.

How you can show you have achieved this

• Evidence of access to physiotherapy services through in-house or external provider

Toolkit – National Resources

Lupus UK has a guidance for employers on how to support staff with such conditions.

The NHS have guidance on common musculoskeletal problems.

Public Health England release musculoskeletal diseases profile annually. It has been designed to bring together data on a single platform, to enable the commissioning of high value musculoskeletal services. Data are provided in a user-friendly format.

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society have guidance for employers.

Arthritis UK guide to living with arthritis.

For a more in-depth look at how to improve musculoskeletal health in the workplace, see this toolkit from Business in the Community.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work such as desk exercises.

The BHSF has a guide to help employers support homeworkers with musculoskeletal issues.

The British Dietetic Association has created a Thrive at Work page which includes resources that will help you fulfil this criteria and others.

NHS One You has resources on the following issues: stress less, eat better, alcohol, smoking, physical activities and sleep.

NHS has information on pain management (including support groups) and helpful tips with living with pain.

British Pain Society has information for people with pain and how to manage it.

There is also a MSK knowledge hub was set up by ARMA and NHS England for MSK Community and building relationships between the community.

The ESCAPE-pain app and website has helpful tips and advice.

The BHSF has a guide to help employers support homeworkers with musculoskeletal issues.

Smart Work and Life provides tips and resources with reducing sitting time across the working day.

Active working provides individuals and organisations helpful tips and resources on how to keep themselves active and engaged whilst at work.

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance have resources on conversation starters for workplace discussions on musculoskeletal disorders.

Get Britain Standing  is a campaign to grow awareness and educate on the dangers of sedentary behaviour.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work.

Understanding and managing pain: information for patients The British Pain Society leaflet has a good description about pain and exercise p17-19, including a pain cycle diagram and very sensible explanations to help understand pain.

ShoulderDoc.co.uk is a website designed to provide information for patients and doctors on shoulder injuries.

Versus Arthritis - Advice on exercise to manage pain and arthritis. 

Versus Arthritis - Exercise sheets and videos for patients on:

• Ankle sprain exercises
• Back pain exercises
• Knee pain exercises
• Neck pain exercises
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shoulder pain exercises
• Elbow pain including tennis elbow
• Keep moving conditions for home exercises

ENEI offer a range of events and training for members and non-members throughout the year.