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Risk reduction through design award 2022/23

This award showcases the important contribution that good design changes can make to reduce the risks of developing or worsening musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.

Businesses of all types and size, and from across all sectors, are encouraged to get involved. The focus in on design solutions that reduce workers risk from MSDs.

Learn more about our ‘Risk reduction through design award’

In this video, we explain how HSE’s ‘Risk reduction through design award’ inspires employers to think about how design changes in the workplace can reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Learn more about the award, previous winners and how to make a nomination.

Enter the awards

You can nominate any design solution implemented in workplaces in the UK that have demonstrated how you have reduced musculoskeletal risks for your workers – we want examples that have made a real impact.

Design solutions that have reduced musculoskeletal risks to large numbers of workers will be attractive, but we also encourage small and medium sized businesses to enter. We are also interested in any novel, innovative or niche solutions.

We welcome in-house employer-led design changes or consultant-led design changes, but nominations must be made by the employer, not by the designer.

Our guidance on how to reduce the risks of MSDs in the workplace may help you submit a stronger nomination

What to include in your entry

Tell us in no more than two sides of A4 paper about how you as an employer have reduced the risk of MSDs for your workers.

We cannot accept nominations from consultants or marketing companies, only employers of the workers who benefit from the design changes.

Your nomination should include:

a description of the task or activity and workplace before you made the change
a description after you made the design change
clear before and after photos
a quote demonstrating what your workers think about the design change

Make sure you tell us:

if you designed the solution in-house. Or if someone else helped you, tell us who helped
what the impact of the design change is? How has MSD risk been reduced for your workers and how many workers are affected?
about any other advantages of the design change. For example, other health or safety benefits, productivity improvements or environmental benefits
how you involved your workers in the process

Do not include any contact details on this part of your nomination.

How to submit your entry

Send your nomination

Email your two sides of A4 to msdpp@hse.gov.uk

In the email please include:

your name, email address and telephone number
the full name and address of your business
your company number if you know it

Closing date for nominations

Closing date for nominations is 31 January 2023

Recognising design innovation that improves workers’ lives

The ‘Risk-reduction through design’ Award is sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF).

We want to inspire businesses to firstly consider how ergonomic-based design changes can reduce the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and secondly, to nominate design changes that have made a real impact.

HSE’s message continues to be that risks from MSDs must be controlled and that all employers should eliminate or reduce these risks at source where possible

Details of past award winners can be found on the HSE website here.

Contact Details

Corporate Communications
2.2 Redgrave Court
Merton Rd
Bootle
L20 7HS

campaigns@hse.gov.uk