Celebrating innovation: MSD Risk Reduction Award winners announced

Two forward-thinking UK companies have been recognised for their practical solutions to tackle musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace, as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced the winners of its annual ‘Risk Reduction Through Design’ awards.

The awards,  jointly sponsored by HSE and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF)), showcase innovative design changes that reduce the risk of MSDs – conditions that affect millions of workers across the UK each year.

Ainscough Crane Hire scooped the main MSD Risk Reduction through Design Award for their ingenious tool set that eliminates the need for workers to manually handle heavy brake and wheel hub assemblies during crane maintenance.

Prior to implementing their solution, plant fitters had to wrestle with components weighing up to 52kg in awkward, cramped positions beneath crane wheel arches – a perfect recipe for back injuries and strains.

“Our maintenance and engineering colleagues took on this challenge together,” said an Ainscough Crane Hire spokesperson. “With no off-the-shelf solutions available, they designed a specialist tool set that fits to a standard floor crane, completely removing the need to manually handle these heavy components.”

The impact on workers has been immediate. As one crane technician put it: “The new tools mean brake inspections are not so physically strenuous. There is no need to lift the heavy drums by hand, which took two people. The attachments allow us to remove and replace a number of different parts – it’s very easy to get the crane arm into the wheel arch to remove disc brake callipers and still have room to access the bolts to remove it.”

In the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) category, Scarborough-based UPM Raflatac Ltd took home the recognition award for their employee-led solution to tackle the manual handling of heavy paper reels.

Workers previously had to lift and manoeuvre reels weighing between 20kg and 90kg, stacking them onto pallets up to 1.3m high – a task that was particularly challenging for some staff due to the reels’ shape and weight.

The solution came from the shop floor, with a worker proposing a trolley system that would eliminate the need for manual lifting altogether. The company’s production and engineering teams worked together to create a prototype using pallet and plywood, which was then extensively tested by workers across all shifts.

“The new reel handling trolley has been a game-changer for me as an operator,” said one worker one worker. “It’s massively reduced manual handling when dealing with these reels and has made the task smoother, faster, and much safer. We can now get the reels from the floor into a large stack without any lifting.”

 

Chris Quarrie, Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors specialist who chaired this year’s judging panel, was impressed by both winners:

“What stands out with both Ainscough Crane Hire and UPM Raflatac is how they’ve approached workplace health challenges with practical creativity. These awards demonstrate that MSD risks can be designed out of everyday work activities, often through straightforward but effective solutions.

“For many workplaces, simple changes can substantially reduce physical strain from lifting, bending and twisting. What’s particularly encouraging is how both winners engaged their workforce throughout the design process, ensuring solutions that work in practice, not just in theory.”

 

Iris Mynott from CIEHF added: “Through these recognitions, we highlight the impactful contributions of businesses in advancing workplace safety. Congratulations to our winners and all the entrants for their dedication to ergonomic improvements.”

The awards were presented during CIEHF’s annual awards ceremony on 29 April 2025, celebrating the commitment and innovation of businesses that put workplace health at the heart of their operations.

MSDs remain one of the most common workplace health issues in Britain, affecting the joints, muscles and nerves. They include conditions such as back pain, neck strains, and upper and lower limb disorders that can develop through manual handling, awkward postures and repetitive movements.

For further details on the winners and their innovative designs, visit: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/msd-awards.htm