Musculoskeletal disorders

Country and Region

The most recent information relating to country and region from the Labour Force Survey relates to 2007/08.

In 2007/08, the prevalence rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders for people living in England (1800 per 100 000 people employed in the past 12 months - 1.8%) was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the rates for people living in Scotland and Wales (both of which exhibited a rate of 1600 per 100 000 - 1.6%). (MSDGOR1W12)

Within England, the North East exhibited a rate that was statistically significantly higher than those for England as a whole (2500 per 100 000 people - 2.5%); on the other hand, the rate for London was found to be statistically significantly lower than average (1300 per 100 000 people who have worked in the last 12 months - 1.3%).

Average days lost per worker were of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) for England (0.35 days), Wales (0.71 days) and Scotland (0.32 days) in 2007/08. Within England, government office regions carried rates similar to that for England, except in London and the South East, which were both found to carry statistically significantly lower rates. (Table MSDGOR3)

Table IIDB02 gives a breakdown of the number of new cases assessed for disablement benefit under the Industrial Injuries Scheme by country, from 1995/96 to 2007/08.