Rail Industry Health and Wellbeing Reports on Musculoskeletal Disorders

At the Q2 2024/25 benchmarking meetings, Dr. Kirsten Huysamen, RSSB’s Lead Human Factors Specialist, shared early results from the latest MSD survey. She also led a discussion on industry-wide experiences.

Key findings:

• 15.3% of all sickness absences were due to MSDs.
• 24.8% of occupational health referrals were MSD-related.
• train operating companies had more MSD-related absences, while infrastructure and supply chain organisations had more referrals.

The discussion during the meeting revealed several barriers to managing MSD risks effectively:

• limited access to occupational health for shift workers
• unclear reporting processes
• inconsistent support from line managers.

Some organisations have tested on-site physiotherapy, which showed good results. While helpful, physiotherapy alone isn’t enough.

Many MSD cases may be missed or recorded under vague categories like ‘unknown’ or ‘other’. Fear of stigma, complex processes, and too much information can also stop people from reporting issues.

Suggestions to improve this included:

• better training for line managers
• simpler reporting systems
• clearer communication.

The full MSD survey report provides more detail on trends, risks, and support needs. Working together across the industry will be key to improving health and building a stronger, more resilient workforce.