Risk-reduction through design awards 2026 – celebrating 10 years of innovation
This year marks the 10th anniversary of HSE’s musculoskeletal disorders 'Risk-reduction through design awards'. It marks a decade of awarding UK employers who have made impactful changes to reduce the risk to their workers.
Join us in recognising this milestone by nominating to showcase your contribution to enabling a healthier workplace.
Nominations are now open to all UK businesses, small or large. The awards are co-sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF).
Over the past decade, winners have come from a wide range of businesses, from food production to construction, all united by a commitment to reducing musculoskeletal risks through workplace design or process changes.
Reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include injuries and conditions that can affect the back, joints and limbs. The awards are for companies that have made simple changes to their workplace, task or activities that have resulted in significantly reduced musculoskeletal risk to their workers.
This might include a reduction in lifting, pushing or pulling activities. It could mean removing the need for manual handling altogether, or a significant decrease in the need for awkward postures or the force needed to use equipment. Let's recognise your contribution to reducing risk!
By entering you will:
- be part of a national celebration of ten years of design-led MSD risk-reduction
- gain recognition for your innovation and commitment to worker wellbeing
- inspire others by sharing your success
Award categories
There are 2 categories for the awards:
- Best overall MSD risk reduction through design award
- Small to medium enterprise (SME) award
We recognise that SMEs are a fundamental backbone to the UK economy, employing over half of the countries' workforce, accounting for over 95% of private sector businesses. We want to recognise the hard work and dedication of UK SMEs and their approach to risk reduction, and help support other businesses by demonstrating what is possible.
SMEs are defined by the number of employees – micro (1-9), small (10-49) and medium (50-249).
How to enter
We can only accept nominations from employers of the workers who benefit from the design changes. We cannot accept nominations from marketing companies, consultants or designers.
A maximum of 3 nominations per company will be accepted.
Submit your nomination online today
What to include in your nomination
Tell us how you have reduced the risk of MSDs for your workers. The template will assist in developing your nomination.
Your nomination should include:
- a detailed description of the task or activity and workplace before you made the change
- a description after you made the design change
- clear photographs showing how your workers carried out the activity before and after the changes
- a quote demonstrating what your workers think about the design change
Make sure you tell us:
- if you designed the solution in-house or, if someone else helped you who they are and what they did
- what the impact of the design change is – how MSD risk has been reduced for your workers and how many workers are affected
- about any other advantages of the design change, for example other health or safety benefits, productivity improvements or environmental benefits
- how you involved your workers in the process
Closing date for nominations
The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2026.
Announcement of the 2025/26 winners
An independent judging panel will consider shortlisted nominations to select an overall winner.
HSE will use the winning entries as case studies which we will share as practical examples for other employers to understand how they can reduce risk in their workplaces.
Winners will be announced at the CIEHF awards event in April 2026 (to be confirmed).
2025 awards winners
The awards winners were announced on 29 April 2025 at the CIEHF Annual Conference.
2025 Winner – MSD risk reduction through design award: Ainscough Crane Hire
Ainscough Crane Hire
Plant fitters had to manually handle heavy brake and wheel hub assemblies for inspection and maintenance tasks on cranes. Maintenance and engineering colleagues collaborated to design a tool set that would fit a standard floor crane to support the weight of the components as they were being removed or fitted. The tool and crane set now eliminates the need to manually handle the heavy components while adopting awkward postures when removing or fitting the components to the crane.
2025 Winner – Small to medium enterprise (SME) recognition award: UPM Raflatac Ltd
UPM Raflatac Ltd
A worker proposed a ‘trolley’ solution to significantly reduce the manual stacking of reels of laminate paper, weighing between 20-90kg. Due to the stacking height, some workers found this activity physically difficult, so the in-house production team and engineering department built a prototype of the worker’s solution out of pallet and plywood. After extensive user trials, workers now roll the reels onto a trolley, and a fork-lift truck moves the reels to a device which automatically upends and stacks the reels, significantly reducing manual handling risk.