Musculoskeletal health in the workplace
Discover practical strategies to prevent workplace musculoskeletal injuries, support employee wellbeing and boost productivity.
The importance of musculoskeletal health
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect the bones, joints and muscles. These conditions often cause persistent pain and can limit mobility and function.
MSK conditions are a leading cause of sickness absence in workplaces across Wales and can also lead to older workers (50+ years) leaving work earlier than expected.
As an employer, you have a legal duty (opens in a new window) to provide a safe workplace that protects employees from MSK risks. There can be risks in both sedentary desk-based positions and manual handling roles.
By helping employees to prevent and manage MSK conditions, you can also boost your organisation’s productivity and reduce sickness absence.
A growing and costly problem
MSK conditions cost the NHS millions and are a common cause of sickness absence.
Official data tells us:
- Around 974,000 people in Wales (opens in a new window) have a musculoskeletal condition
- An ageing population, rising levels of physical inactivity and obesity are leading to a rise in MSK conditions
- MSK problems were the second most common reason (opens in a new window) for sickness absence in the UK between 2019 and 2022. Find out how to manage sickness absence in your workplace.
- MSK ill health costs the NHS in Wales almost £430 million per year
Download this useful graphic to learn more.
Page last reviewed: 11th March 2025
