Minister for health and safety puts his back into it

E039:07 23 October 2007

To mark the start of this year's European Week for Safety and Health campaign 'Lighten the Load', Health and Safety minister Lord McKenzie of Luton joined trade union safety representatives and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on a unionlearn course. The unionlearn course will focus on learning tools to prevent back pain and repetitive strain injury in the workplace.

The 'Lighten the Load' campaign aims to raise awareness and provide guidance for both managers and employees on how they can reduce the incidence of manual handling injuries in their workplaces.

Speaking from Congress House, London, Lord McKenzie said,"Every year more than 1.0 million workers in Great Britain suffer from back pain or repetitive strain injuries, making these the most common form of work related injury in the country. Partnership working and events such as this play a key role in making progress in reducing the number of workplace injuries."

Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive of HSE said, "When employers and employees work together on health and safety issues, there can be real improvements. HSE is committed to raising awareness and reducing the incidence of work related MSD cases. Early next year we will be working on further planned initiatives with stakeholders."

Liz Rees, unionlearn Trade Union Education Manager said, "I am delighted to welcome Lord McKenzie to see at first hand what difference safety representatives are making in the workplace. Safety at work is a concern for every worker and employer as well as the TUC. Unionlearn together with trade unions are all playing a part to make workplaces safer."

Further information on Euro Week's 'Lighten the Load' campaign and reducing manual handling injuries in the workplace, as well as free access to manual handling assessment charts, case studies and advice is available by visiting the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work website www.osha.europa.eu where you can find out more about the European Good Practice Awards for 2007.

Notes to editors

1. European Week is an annual campaign run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. See New Release E023:07 issued on 19 June 2007, "HSE 'lightens the load' to support Euro Week" for further information and background.
2. unionlearn aims to help unions become learning organisations, with programmes for union representatives and regional officers and strategic support for national officers.
3. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are impairments of structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves that are aggravated primarily by the performance of work and by the effects of the immediate environment where the work is carried out. Source OSHA.
4. Work-related neck and upper limb disorders (WRULDs) are impairments of the structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves or localised blood circulation system that are aggravated primarily by the performance of work and by the effects of the immediate environment where the work is carried out. Source OSHA.
5. Results from the latest survey of self-reported work-related illness (SWI05/06) estimated that 9.5 million working days (full-day equivalent) in Great Britain were lost in 2005/06 through musculoskeletal disorders caused or made worse by work. On average, each person suffering took an estimated 17.3 days off work in that 12 month period.

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