www.hertsdirect.org

Reducing Musculoskeletal issues in the workplace

Judith Hutchings, Senior HR Officer

Hannah Sherwood, HR Officer

Jackie Parker, Occupational Health

www.hertsdirect.org

Overview

• Introduction

• The issue

• What we did

• Progress to date

• Next steps

• Simple things you could do

• Any questions?

www.hertsdirect.org

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 children’s services - Libraries - Registration: births, deaths, marriages• Public Health• Annual gross budget of £1.7b

www.hertsdirect.org

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 Hertfordshire’s 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

www.hertsdirect.org

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

“Without this

intervention it would

have taken longer to

heal”

“Following physio there has been no further absence

and condition has improved”

“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

www.hertsdirect.org

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

www.hertsdirect.org

Any Questions?

www.hertsdirect.org

thank you