HSE Guidance

Construction sites are being targeted as part of HSE’s latest 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 to improve the long-term health of those working in construction.

Site inspections started on Monday 4 September and will run for 8 weeks.  

Focusing on moving and handling construction materials, HSE inspectors are checking that employers and workers:

• know the risks
• plan their work to eliminate or substitute the risks, where possible
• where that is not possible, are using sensible control measures to protect workers from aches, pain and discomfort in joints, muscles and bones known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

In the most recent period, an estimated 42,000 construction workers suffered work-related MSDs.

These can have a serious impact on workers’ ability to perform tasks; their quality of life; and in some cases, their ability to stay in work and earn a living. Many can and do suffer from long-term pain and discomfort.