'LIGHTEN THE LOAD' AT WORK THIS WEEK

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Oct 2007

This week is the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, and this is the culmination of a long EU campaign to tackle common aches and pains in the workplace, which as well as personal injury and discomfort, also wreak havoc with employee productivity and attendance.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as backache, affect 1 million people in the UK and many believe they are caused or made worse by work.

Local Euro MP Liz Lynne, who is Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, welcomed the launch of this awareness week, saying:

"We desperately need to do more to tackle musculoskeletal disorders because they are currently the biggest cause of work absence in almost all European countries. This week's activities will do a great job raising awareness and hopefully help to combat underlying causes.

"It is unacceptable that, apart from the obvious financial cost, these complaints do immeasurable damage to so many people's health, damaging their employability, quality of life and in the longer-term, their standard of living.

"Only if government, employers, employees and safety representatives work together can enduring solutions be found through adhering to existing regulation and sharing best practice."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) findings in August 2006 some two million workers suffer ill health caused or made worse by work, costing the UK 28 million working days per year. Musculoskeletal disorders affected some one million people who believed they were caused or made worse by work. Work-related stress was the next biggest category with 500,000 people. The HSE is the UK Focal Point for the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 'Lighten the Load' campaign concludes with the European Week for Health and Safety at Work, 22nd-26th October 2007, which comprises a range of activities and events across the EU.

Good Practice will be rewarded at an awards ceremony in March 2008 to reward innovation and excellence in tackling musculoskeletal disorders.

Campaign website: http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/