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Musculoskeletal injuries are common in the construction industry and are estimated to cost more than £1billion per year in healthcare, disability benefits and lost productivity. Construction companies in the UK are thought to be responsible for more than 25,000 new back injuries every year, with a growing proportion (between a third and half) of construction workers over 50 now suffering from chronic back pain.
The term musculoskeletal disorder (or ‘MSD') refers to an injury that affects the muscles, joints, tendons or spinal discs. The most common areas to be affected are the back, knees, neck and shoulders. You’re more prone to injury when; it’s a cold day as cold muscles are more susceptible to to injury, after a holiday of 2 weeks or more, or when working under pressure such as a tight deadline.
The construction industry has one of the highest rates of MSDs, with the main cause of injury being manual handling. As this includes lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying the workers commonly affected include bricklayers, scaffolders, ground workers, electricians, demolition workers, general labourers and apprentices.
Whilst handling heavy objects plays a significant part in the occurrence of MSDs, it is not the only cause of injury. Doing a task repetitively, even if the load is relatively light (such as bricklaying), or where the person's body position is less than ideal (such as plastering) are also key contributors to Musculoskeletal injuries.
Musculoskeletal Injuries Symptoms Include
- pain, tingling or numbness
- burning sensation
- shooting or stabbing pains
- stiffness
- swelling or inflammation
- aching
People suffering from MSDs may have a reduced ability to perform tasks and in addition to pain & discomfort, the more serious cases can result in permanent disability. It’s important to deal with any symptoms early on as an ache or discomfort can, unless spotted and dealt with effectively, turn into a long-term or ‘chronic' injury.
How to Help Avoid MSD
- Ensure your body is properly warmed up before you lift anything
- Take regular breaks to stretch & alternate between different jobs when doing a repetitive task
- If lifting heavy objects split into smaller, lighter loads where possible, lift with another person or use equipment to help support the load
- And the one we should all know by heart “bend your knees, not your back”
Employers have a duty of care to their employees, this means they have a responsibility to protect them, as well as contractors and visitors. This should be done through carrying out risk assessments, checking and maintaining equipment and providing suitable tools for the job such as hoists, pallet trucks and mechanical lifting aids.
We Can Help
If you are injured at work as a result of your employer’s failure to do the above (negligence) then you may be entitled to make an accident compensation claim. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid genuine compensation claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If You Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
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