UK Organizations Win National Awards for Musculoskeletal Risk Reduction Designs

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by HSE Press Office.

MSD Risk Reduction Awards

Two UK organizations have won the 10th annual MSD Risk Reduction Through Design Awards, sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF). The awards recognize employers who redesign tasks to remove the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Main Award: MP Coleman Ltd

Civil engineering and materials company MP Coleman Ltd won the main award for automating the palletization of 25-kilogram bags. According to the HSE, workers previously handled approximately 5 tonnes of material per shift, causing lower back fatigue and shoulder discomfort. The company installed a robotic arm to pick, place, and stack bags, alongside an automatic wrapping unit and perimeter guarding. The HSE noted that no jobs were lost, and workers were upskilled into other roles.

SME Recognition Award: Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Thames Valley Air Ambulance received the Small to Medium Enterprise Recognition Award for redesigning the handling of training manikins weighing between 20 and 40 kilograms. The charity collaborated with equipment manufacturers, health and safety specialists, and workers to design bespoke roller shelving and a height-adjustable roller trolley, reducing the process to a one-person task.

HSE Comment

Chris Quarrie, HSE chartered ergonomist, human factors specialist, and chair of the judging panel, stated:

"We congratulate both MP Coleman and Thames Valley Air Ambulance for reducing workplace MSD risks for their workers, hopefully their ideas can inspire others. This is the tenth year of the MSD risk reduction through design awards, and they demonstrate how design changes can eliminate or significantly reduce MSD risk — creating healthier workplaces."