Musculoskeletal disorders: the hidden epidemic costing UK businesses millions

Reviewed and updated July 2026. Statistics reflect HSE’s 2024/25 ill-health data and 2023/24 cost estimates.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant yet too often overlooked challenge in UK workplaces. For many employers the risk remains hidden yet the financial, operational and human cost implications are substantial¹.

What are musculoskeletal disorders?

“Musculoskeletal disorders” (MSDs) is a broad term used to cover conditions affecting muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments². Common examples in the workplace include chronic back pain, repetitive strain injuries (e.g., upper limb disorders), osteoarthritis aggravated by work, and tendonitis².

These disorders can arise from a range of workplace factors: prolonged awkward posture, repetitive tasks, manual handling of loads, frequent lifting or twisting, sedentary roles with poor ergonomics, and lack of movement².

Because they often develop gradually rather than from a single traumatic event, they are easily underestimated by employers².

The “hidden epidemic” in UK workplaces

There are several reasons why MSDs are often under recognised²:

Gradual onset

Unlike an acute injury, an MSD may begin as mild discomfort and escalate over time before the business notices any impact².

Under reporting or attribution issues

Workers may attribute aches to normal fatigue, may fear repercussions, or may not realise the work connection².

Invisible costs

The full impact goes beyond absence: reduced productivity, “presenteeism” (workers at work but impaired), retraining, adjustments, turnover, and healthcare/rehabilitation.

Long term nature

Many MSDs require ongoing management, are recurrent or chronic, and thus impose sustained burdens on employers, workers and the economy².

Economic impact on UK businesses

For UK employers the scale of the challenge is real and quantifiable^{3, 4, 5}.

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to Great Britain of workplace injuries and new cases of work related ill health at £22.9 billion (2023/24)³. Ill health accounts for the larger share at around £16.4 billion (72%), with injury making up roughly £6.5 billion (28%)³.
• In 2024/25, MSDs alone were responsible for an estimated 7.1 million lost working days⁴.
• Also in 2024/25, around 511,000 workers reported suffering a work related MSD⁵.
• HSE’s “appraisal values” put the total cost to society of a single case of work related ill health involving seven or more days’ absence at around £49,500 (2023/24 values), combining financial costs with a valuation of the human cost⁶.

These figures underline why UK employers must implement musculoskeletal disorder prevention programmes to reduce absenteeism and lost productivity^{3, 4, 5}.

Industries most affected

Certain sectors tend to carry higher risk of MSDs, owing to the nature of their work⁵:

• Manual labour industries (construction, manufacturing, agriculture) show higher incidence due to frequent lifting, awkward positions, repetitive manual operations⁵. Targeted MSD prevention strategies in construction and manufacturing can save millions in lost productivity.
• Office based environments with prolonged seated work, frequent computer/keyboard use (display screen equipment, DSE) and inadequate ergonomics also contribute to upper limb disorders and back pain². Implementing DSE assessments and posture training is a key preventive measure for office-based employees in the UK.
• Health & social care workers (with tasks such as patient handling, transfers, frequent bending) also face elevated MSD risk².

Legal obligations for UK employers

As an employer in Great Britain you must take MSD risk seriously and there is a clear legal framework⁷:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees.
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, requires risk assessments including for MSD risks.
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, assess and reduce manual handling risks.
• Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations 1992, ensure proper workstation set-up and rest breaks.
• Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, where applicable.
• Equality Act 2010, when MSD becomes a disability or long-term condition, consider reasonable adjustments.

Failure to manage MSD risk appropriately could increase absence, costs, and exposure to enforcement or civil claims².

Prevention and management: pragmatic strategies for UK employers

Addressing MSDs effectively requires a structured, proactive approach²:

Ergonomic assessment and design

Task-specific risk assessments, redesign where needed, mechanical aids, job rotation, proper chair/desk/screen setup².

Training and awareness

Educate employees on posture, safe manual handling, DSE breaks, micro-breaks, early signs of MSD².

Health and wellness programmes

Encourage movement, physical conditioning, access to occupational health or physiotherapy⁸.

Early intervention & monitoring

Encourage reporting, provide timely medical support, track key metrics⁸.

Policy & governance

Formal policy covering MSD risk, responsibility lines, procedures, DSE assessments².

Return-to-work support and adjustment

Phased return, adjusted duties, ergonomic modification⁸.

Why this matters to your business

From a business perspective:

• Approximately 511,000 UK workers report MSDs and 7.1 million working days were lost in 2024/25^{4, 5}.
• A single case of work related ill health involving seven or more days’ absence carries an estimated total cost to society of around £49,500⁶.

Implementing MSD prevention programmes, ergonomic interventions, and early reporting protocols can protect employees, reduce costs, and improve workplace productivity^{2, 3, 4, 5}.

Musculoskeletal disorders are a business issue in the UK, not just a health issue. Proactively assessing risk, embedding ergonomics, early intervention, and ensuring governance and compliance can reduce MSD impact, improve productivity, and protect your workforce. If your organisation hasn’t reviewed MSD risk in the last 12 months, or has significant manual handling or DSE-intensive roles, now is the time to act^{2, 3, 4, 5}.

Please note: This blog provides general health and safety guidance for UK workplaces. Following these steps does not guarantee legal compliance. To conduct a full health and safety self-assessment today, download our Health & Safety 360° Guide 2026/2027.

References

¹ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

² Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Musculoskeletal disorders at work

³ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Costs to Great Britain of workplace injuries and new cases of work related ill health

⁴ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Working days lost in Great Britain

⁵ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Key figures for Great Britain

⁶ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Appraisal values or ‘unit costs’

⁷ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Musculoskeletal disorders: the law

⁸ Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Health monitoring and support for workers