Official documentation
Upper limb disorders
Health and Safety Executive (Great Britain), 2026
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The UK regulator's guidance on upper limb disorders (ULDs) at work. It lists risk factors such as repetitive work and tasks done for a long time without suitable rest breaks, sets out employer duties, and says a worker may need to stop a task that is causing a ULD.
- How much weight it carries
- Official guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, last updated 15 January 2026. It describes risk factors and duties in general, and is not a clinical guide for individual patients.
Facts taken from this source
- HSE lists carrying out a task for a long time without suitable rest breaks as a risk factor for upper limb disorders.
“carrying out a task for a long time without suitable rest breaks” (Risk factors)
- HSE says workers may be more likely to suffer upper limb problems if their work has more than one risk factor.
“Workers may be more likely to suffer upper limb problems if there is more than one risk factor in their work.” (Risk factors)
- HSE says that if a task is causing or contributing to an upper limb disorder, the worker may need to stop doing that task for a while.
“If a task is causing or contributing to a ULD, the worker may need to stop doing that task for a while.” (Reducing the risk)
- The HSE says upper limb disorders are more common in work tasks that involve carrying out a task for a long time without suitable rest breaks.
“carrying out a task for a long time without suitable rest breaks” (Causes of upper limb disorders at work)
- The UK Health and Safety Executive defines upper limb disorders as aches and pains in the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers, as well as in the neck.
“Upper limb disorders include aches and pains in the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers, as well as in the neck.” (Upper limb disorders)
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