• A civil engineering firm and an air ambulance charity have won national awards for designs that eliminate the risk of musculoskeletal injuries at work. 

• Robots and bespoke roller systems eliminate manual lifting risks.  

• Winners mark the 10th year of the MSD Risk Reduction Through Design Awards 

• Designs developed with workers could inspire other employers to follow suit. 

Workers at two UK organisations will benefit from healthier working conditions after innovative design changes to cut musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) earned their employers this year’s MSD Risk Reduction Through Design Awards — now in their tenth year. 

The awards, sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), recognise employers who have redesigned tasks to remove the risk of MSDs — injuries to the back, joints and limbs that are among the most common causes of work-related ill health in Britain. 

MP Coleman Ltd, a civil engineering and materials company, won the main award. Workers were manually palletising 25kg bags — each handling around 5 tonnes of material per shift — involving repetitive bending and twisting that caused lower back fatigue and shoulder discomfort. A robotic arm now picks, places and stacks the bags automatically, with an automatic wrapping unit replacing manual stretch wrapping entirely. Perimeter guarding (not shown in the photos)) and automated controls improve safety and simplify the workflow. 

No jobs were lost; workers were upskilled into other activities.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance, the charity serving more than 2 million people across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, wins the Small to Medium Enterprise Recognition Award. Training manikins weighing between 20kg and 40kg had to be handled multiple times a day by two workers, with restricted space making ideal lifting postures difficult, increasing injury risk. Bespoke roller shelving and a height-adjustable roller trolley, designed with equipment manufacturers, health and safety specialists and workers, has substantially reduced MSD risk and made it a one-person task. 

Chris Quarrie, HSE’s Chartered Ergonomist, Human Factors Specialist and chair of this year’s judging panel, said:  

“We congratulate both MP Coleman and Thames Valley Air Ambulance for reducing workplace MSD risks for their workers, hopefully their ideas can inspire others. This is the tenth year of the MSD risk reduction through design awards, and they demonstrate how design changes can eliminate or significantly reduce MSD risk — creating healthier workplaces.” 

Further information: 

1. For more information on the award winners visit: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/msd-awards.htm 

1. More information about Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF): https://ergonomics.org.uk/ 

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.  

1. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today (Thursday 20 November) published its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for 2024/25.

The figures show that an estimated 1.9 million workers suffered from work-related ill health during 2024/25, remaining broadly consistent with the levels seen in recent years.

While the recent rates of self-reported work-related ill health are similar, they continue to be higher than pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2018/19.

Mental health conditions remain the primary driver of work-related ill health, with 964,000 workers reporting stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work in 2024/25. This is in line with the upward trend in recent years.

Work-related ill health and injuries resulted in an estimated 40.1 million working days lost in 2024/25, continuing to place significant pressure on both workers and businesses.

HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon said: “Great Britain maintains its position as one of the safest places to work globally, built on more than 50 years of health and safety regulation. However, these statistics demonstrate that workplace health challenges persist, particularly around mental health.

“We remain firmly committed to protecting people and places, supporting businesses to create healthier working environments, and ensuring continuous improvement in workplace safety standards across Britain.”

The statistics also highlight the economic impact of workplace health and safety issues. In 2023/24, the estimated annual cost of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health reached £22.9 billion, similar to the estimate for 2022/23.

Fatal and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2024/25 totalled 124 worker fatalities and an estimated 680,000 self-reported non-fatal injuries.

Notes to editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. Details on HSE’s work-related mental health campaign, Working Minds, can be found here Working Minds – Work Right
3. Details on HSE’s 10-year strategy can be found here HSE strategy 2022 to 2032 – About us – HSE.
4. HSE’s annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for 2024/25 can be found here – Health and safety statistics – HSE
5. The annual costs are based on three-year rolling average, with the named year based on the middle year of the three, for example 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 average is referred to as 2023/24.