Resources

Manual handling

• Manual handling: Guidance on the regulations
• Manual handling at work: A brief guide
• Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC) tool
• Online tutorial on how to use the Manual handling assessment charts (MAC) tool
• Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) tool
• Making the best use of lifting and handling aids
• Full manual handling risk assessment: Examples of assessment checklists

DSE

• Work with display screen equipment: Guidance on regulations
• Working with display screen equipment: A brief guide
• Display screen equipment (DSE) workstation checklist

Upper limb disorders

• Upper limb disorders in the workplace
• Managing upper limb disorders in the workplace: A brief guide
• Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) tool

General guidance

• Workplace health, safety and welfare
• Seating at work
• Ergonomics and human factors at work

There are up to date statistics on work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

HSE has published a large amount of research material related to MSDs which can be found using our search function.

HSE tools

• Musculoskeletal (MSD) Online Assessment Tool
• Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC) tool
• Online tutorial on how to use the Manual handling assessment charts (MAC) tool
• Variable manual handling assessment chart (V-MAC) tool
• Risk assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP) tool
• Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) tool
• Full manual handling risk assessment: Examples of assessment checklists
• Upper limb disorders risk filter
• Upper limb disorders risk assessment worksheets
• Body mapping tool

Other tools

• The NIOSH Lifting Equation
• RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment)
• REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment)
• QEC (Quick Exposure Check)

Agriculture

• Manual handling in agriculture
• HSG270 Farmwise (Section 21 on manual handling)
• What a good farm looks like
• INDG125 Safe working with bales in agriculture
• INDG317 Chainsaws at work

Air transport

MSDs in air transport

Catering and hospitality

• MSDs in catering and hospitality
• Preventing manual handling injuries to catering staff

Cleaning

MSDs in cleaning

Construction

• Manual handling in construction
• HSG150 Health and safety in construction
• INDG344(rev2) The absolutely essential health and safety tool kit for the smaller construction contractor
• CIS26 Cement
• CIS57 Handling kerbs: Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• CIS77 Preventing injury from handling heavy blocks
• Construction occupational health case studies

Engineering

• Engineering website
• HSG129 Health and safety in engineering workshops (pages 20 to 24)
• HSG246 Safety in the storage and handling of steel and other metal stock
• INDG390 Choosing a welding set: Make sure you can handle it

Food and drink

• Food and drink - manual handling
• Food and drink MSDs
• Roll cages and wheeled racks - Manual handling
• HSG196 Moving food and drink: Manual handling solutions for the food and drink industries
• HSG252 A recipe for safety: Health and safety in food and drink manufacture

Health and social care

• Moving and handling in health and social care
• HSG220 (Second edition) Health and safety in care homes
• The guide to the handling of people National Back Pain Association
• HSIS3 Getting to grips with hoisting people
• Health services, equipment fit for purpose

Motor vehicle repair

Manual handling in the motor vehicle repair industry

Papermaking, corrugated and recovered paper

Manual handling in papermaking, corrugated and recovered paper

Ports and docks

• MSDs in ports and docks
• Whole-body vibration in ports
• INDG446 A quick guide to health and safety in ports
• INDG242 Control back-pain risks from whole-body vibration: Advice for employers
• INDG404 Drive away bad backs: Advice for mobile machine operators and drivers

Printing and publishing

• Manual handling in printing
• INDG470 Handling newspaper and magazine bundles

Retail

• Manual handling in the retail industry
• INDG439 Reducing manual handling risks in carpet retail
• INDG269 Managing musculoskeletal disorders in checkout work
• INDG470 Handling newspaper and magazine bundles

Textiles

Manual handling in the textiles industry

Warehousing

HSG76 Warehousing and storage – a guide to health and safety

Waste and recycling

• MSDs in waste management and recycling
• Manual handling in refuse collection HSL/2002/21
• Manual handling in kerbside collection and sorting of recyclables HSL/2006/25
• RR1141 Comparative analysis of manual handling practices in kerbside collection of recyclable waste
• GEIS4 Conveyor belt workstation design

Woodworking

• Manual handling in woodworking
• INDG318 Manual handling solutions in woodworking

Workplace transport

• Vehicles at work
• Manual handling in logistics
• HSG136 Workplace transport safety (includes risks from manual sheeting)
• INDG379 Health and safety in road haulage