Industry Insights

HSE October 2022 – Site inspections focus on moving and handling materials

Construction site inspections across Great Britain will take place as part of an HSE health inspection initiative supported by the ‘Work Right Construction: Your health. Your future’ campaign.

The campaign is raising awareness of health issues in relation to moving and handling materials.

It aims to improve the long-term health of those working in construction.

Starting Monday 3 October 2022, for six weeks, site inspections focusing on moving and handling construction materials will be checking employers and workers:

  • Know the risks
  • Plan their work
  • Use sensible control measures to protect workers from injuries and aches, pain and discomfort in joints, muscles and bones known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

An estimated 40,000 construction workers suffered work-related MSDs last year. These injuries can have a serious impact on workers’ ability to perform tasks, their quality of life, and in some cases, their ability to work and earn a living.

Many can and do suffer from long-term pain and discomfort.

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect workers from ill health and should involve them in managing the risks to their health just as they would with safety.

Workers should not have to accept these injuries and potential long-term suffering as an inevitable part of construction work. They should talk to their employer about the risks and the measures in place to protect their health.