APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Internal Audit Form
Name of Organisation:
Area being audited (if applicable):
Name(s) of Auditor:
Date:
Element 1: Policy on prevention and
management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
YES
NO
COMMENT
Manual Handling
Do you have a policy on manual
handling?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Does it explain the main manual
handling operations that take place in
the workplace?
Does it refer to the manual handling of
loads regulation and summarise the key
requirements?
Does it outline how the organisation will
meet the requirements set out in the
regulation?
Does it explain that staff will be consulted
during the risk assessment process?
Does it refer to the need for manual
handling training programs to be specific
to the work tasks completed, and take
account of the risk assessment outcomes
and/or Safe System of Work Plans
(SSWPs)? Note: This training should be
provided by a competent instructor.
Does it refer to the arrangements required
for supervision of handling practices?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
45
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 1: Policy on prevention and
management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
YES
NO
COMMENT
Does it identify useful resources that may
be required to manage the risk(s) of
manual handling?
Does it refer to the monitoring and
review processes in place to flag the need
for new risk assessments?
Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Do you have a policy on DSE?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Does it explain the main DSE operations
that take place in the workplace?
Does it refer to the DSE regulation?
Does it outline how the organisation will
meet the requirements set out the
regulation?
Does it outline that consultation with
staff will take place, and that risk
assessments will be recorded and signed
off by employees and assessor?
Does it state that the assessor who
conducts the DSE risk assessments of
employees workstations must
understand the requirements set out in
the DSE regulation?
Does it identify useful resources that may
be required to manage the risk(s) of DSE?
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Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 1: Policy on prevention and
management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
YES
NO
COMMENT
Does it refer to the monitoring and
review processes in place?
Work activities which may increase the
risk of upper limb disorders (ULDs)
Do you have a policy to address work
activities which may increase the risk of
ULDs?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Does it explain the main activities that
take place in the workplace, and the fact
that some of these activities may
increase the risk of ULDs?
Does it refer to the legislative framework
around the management of work activities which may increase the risk of ULDs?
Does it outline how the organisation will
meet the requirements set out in
legislation?
Does it refer to the need for a training
programme to be specific to the actual
work tasks completed, and to take
account of the risk assessment outcomes
and/or SSWPs?
Does it refer to the arrangements required for supervision of staff in order to
facilitate the transfer of instruction into
the workplace and ensure compliance?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
47
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 1: Policy on prevention and
management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
YES
NO
COMMENT
Does it identify useful resources which
may be required to manage the risk(s)
of ULDs?
Does it refer to the monitoring and
review processes in place?
Management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs)
Do you have a policy to address the
management of musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs)?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Does it refer to the need for prompt
reporting of an accident?
Does it refer to the need for prompt
investigation of an accident?
Does it refer to the need for appropriate
documentation of all accident
investigations?
Does it refer to the need for retention
of staff at work?
Does it refer to the need for
communication between the employee
and employer?
Does it refer to the need for planning and
undertaking workplace adjustments?
Does it refer to the need to prepare
retention at work or early return to
work plan?
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Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 2: Risk Assessments and Safe
Systems of Work Plans (SSWPs)
YES
NO
COMMENT
Manual Handling
Is there a system in place to identify and
prioritise the key manual handling tasks
that need to be assessed?
Is there evidence that a manual handling
risk assessment process is being used to
assess tasks?
Is there evidence that staff members are
consulted as part of the risk assessment
process?
Is there evidence that technical
information on tasks is being collected?
Is there evidence that risk factors for a
particular task are identified with
supporting evidence?
Is there evidence that control measures
for a particular task are identified?
Is there evidence that the control
measures are formalised appropriately
through the use of SSWPs or other
means?
Do the SSWPs give clear instruction on
how tasks should be performed to avoid
or reduce the risk of injury?
Is there evidence of a review process in
place to update and revise risk
assessments as necessary?
Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Is there evidence that assessors have
been trained to be able to carry out
workstation assessments?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
49
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 2: Risk Assessments and Safe
Systems of Work Plans (SSWPs)
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there evidence that there is a risk
assessment process in place to assess
DSE workstations?
Is there evidence that assessors are assessing individual DSE workstations?
Is there evidence that staff members are
consulted as part of the risk assessment
process?
Is there evidence that the risk assessments are being completed correctly
(i.e. detailed observation of employee
at the computer workstation and
documentation of issues that may need
to be addressed)?
Is there evidence that control measures
are identified, recorded and
implemented?
Work activities which may increase the
risk of upper limb disorders (ULDs)
Is there a system in place to identify and
prioritise the key activities which may
increase the risk of ULDs?
Is there evidence that there is a ULD risk
assessment process being used to assess
tasks?
Is there evidence that staff members are
consulted as part of the risk assessment
process?
Is there evidence that technical
information on tasks is being collected?
50
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 2: Risk Assessments and Safe
Systems of Work Plans (SSWPs)
YES
NO
COMMENT
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there evidence that risk factors for a
particular task are identified with
supporting evidence?
Is there evidence that control measures
are formalised appropriately through the
use of SSWPs or other means?
Do the SSWPs give clear instruction on
how tasks should be performed to avoid
or reduce the risk of injury?
Is there evidence of a review process in
place to update and revise risk
assessments as necessary?
Element 3: Training
Manual Handling
Is there evidence that training is being
provided for staff by an Instructor with
a FETAC Level 6 Award? (Republic of
Ireland)
Is there evidence that training is provided
by a competent instructor?
(Northern Ireland)
Is there evidence that training relates
to site specific work activities?
Is there evidence that training includes
the communication of the results of risk
assessments and instruction in the
resulting control measures and/or SSWPs
that are to be followed?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
51
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 3: Training
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there evidence that training includes
instruction in the safe use of equipment?
Is there evidence that skills taught in
training are supported and supervised
in the workplace?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
training is kept up to date and reviewed?
Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Is there evidence that training is provided
to staff on the requirements under the
DSE regulation?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Is there an explanation given on the key
components that make up a DSE
computer workstation? And is there
evidence that the training gives
instruction on using a workstation
appropriately?
Is there evidence that training gives
instruction on the risk assessment
process?
Is there evidence that the training gives
instruction on upper limb disorders and
other associated MSD risk factors?
Is there evidence that training gives
instruction on planning work activity to
allow for periodic interruptions by breaks
or changes in work activity?
Is there evidence that training gives
advice on the availability of eye/eyesight
tests?
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Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 3: Training
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there a system in place to ensure that
training is kept up to date and reviewed?
Work activities which may increase the
risk of upper limb disorders (ULDs)
Is there evidence that training is provided
to staff on the legislative requirements of
work activities which may increase the
risk of ULDs?
IF ANSWER IS YES
Is there evidence that the training provided to staff is relevant to the site-specific ULD hazards in the work
environment?
Is there evidence that training includes
instruction in the safe use of equipment?
Is there evidence that training is provided
to staff on ULD risk factors and the potential symptoms?
Is there evidence that training provided
to staff explains the system for early reporting of symptoms?
Is there evidence that training provided
to staff gives clear instruction on the control measures and/or SSWPs that are to
be followed?
Is there evidence that training is supported
and supervised in the workplace?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
training is kept up to date and reviewed?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
53
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 4: Accident and near miss
reporting and investigation
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there a system in place to ensure that
accidents/near misses are reported in a
timely manner?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
accidents/near misses are investigated by
a person with the necessary skills and
experience?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
appropriate information is collected during the accident/near miss investigation?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
the contributing factors and systems
failures are identified as part of an
investigation?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
the contributing factors and corrective
actions are identified in the investigation
report?
Is there evidence that accident/near miss
reports are documented?
Is there evidence that accident/near
miss investigations are documented
and reviewed as necessary?
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Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Element 5: Injury Management (Retention,
rehabilitation and return to work)
YES
NO
COMMENT
Is there evidence of an injury
management (retention, rehabilitation
and return to work) policy?
Is there a system in place to record
sickness absence and flag when a person
is off work as a result of musculoskeletal
injury or illness?
Is a service provided to staff to allow
them to access medical advice or
treatment when they are off work due
to a musculoskeletal injury or illness?
Is there a system in place to allow early
contact and on-going communication
with an employee when they are off work?
Is there a system in place to allow for
planning and undertaking workplace
adjustments to allow for an early return
to work?
Is there a system in place to ensure that
a retention or return to work plan is put
into place?
Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
55
APPENDIX 9: An example of an internal audit form for musculoskeletal
disorder (MSD) prevention and management in the workplace
Summary of Findings
Auditor(s) Signature:
Action
Date of Completion
Management Signature:
Date:
This booklet contains notes on good practice. Not all actions are compulsory but you may find them helpful in considering what
you need to do in order to prevent and manage musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace.
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Guidance on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace
