Reducing Musculoskeletal issues in the workplace

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Reducing Musculoskeletal issues in the workplace

• Judith Hutchings, Senior HR Officer
• Hannah Sherwood, HR Officer
• Jackie Parker, Occupational Health

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Overview

• Introduction
• The issue
• What we did
• Progress to date
• Next steps
• Simple things you could do
• Any questions?

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Hertfordshire County Council

• Largest employer in Hertfordshire
• 32,000 employees
• Public services to a population of 1
• million including
• - Schools
• - Fire Rescue
• - Highways
• - Adult and childrens services
• - Libraries
• - Registration births, deaths,
• marriages
• Public Health
• Annual gross budget of 1.7b

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Hertfordshire employees

• Female 84
• Part time 60
• 55 - 20
• Average Sickness Days 6.8 (compared to 8.3 in
  April 2011)
• Musculoskeletal currently makes up 12
• Change to Terms and Conditions in April 2012

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Health and Community Services

• Largest department - 2,100 employees
• Responsible for Hertfordshires vulnerable
  adults
• Roles involve manual handling, personal care and
  transport
• Range of services across multiple sites
• Highest sickness absence across depts 10.1
  days

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The issue

• Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) is one of highest
  reason for absence
• Health and Community Services (HCS) highest
  figures
• Cost of absence in year prior to pilot starting
  was nearly 300k

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What we did

• Phase one RehabWorks
• Phase two Internal
• Initial budget agreed
• Change culture and up-skill managers
• Identified approved physiotherapists
• Candidates identified
• Monitored regularly

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2012 2013
MSD sickness absence 4349 days MSD sickness absence 3108 days
MSD sickness absence cost 317.5k MSD sickness absence cost 199k

• Cumulative cost saving 118.5k
• Cost to run scheme 10k

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Feedback
Following physio there has been no further
absence and condition has improved
Without this intervention it would have taken
longer to heal
Employee has gone from being absence from work
to now working on full duties
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Next steps

• Continue to support the scheme
• Extended pilot to Hertfordshire Catering Ltd
• Further up-skilling of managers

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Simple things you could do

• Contact Occupational Health (if have one)
• Check internet for free resources
• Work with local leisure providers
• On-site pilates, yoga or massage
• Ask your staff

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• Any Questions?

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thank you
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