Size of workplace

The most recent information from the Labour Force Survey relating to self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders by size of workplace relates to 2006/07.

In 2006/07 prevalence rates for self reported musculoskeletal disorders were of similar order for small (< 50 employees), medium (50-249 employees) and large workplaces (250+ employees). For small workplaces the rate was 1800 per 100 000 people working in the last 12 months, 1600 per 100 000 for medium-sized and 1900 per 100 000 for large workplaces. Incidence rates were also of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) for small, medium and large business in 2006/07. For small workplaces the rate was 700 per 100 000 people employed in the last 12 months (0.74%), for medium sized 790 per 100 000 people (0.79%) and for large workplaces 730 per 100 000 people (0.73%) (see Tables MSDSIZE2 for prevalence data and MSDSIZE4 for incidence data and MSDSIZE6 for days lost data).