The European Agency for Safety and Health (EU-OSHA) at Work’s 2020-2022 campaign will focus on one of the most common work-related problems in Europe – musculoskeletal disorders.

Despite legislation and initiatives aimed at preventing them, around three in every five workers suffer from MSDs and they remain the most common work-related health complaint in Europe, affecting workers in all jobs and sectors. Repetitive movements, prolonged sitting and heavy lifting are just some of the risk factors that contribute to these conditions, which can affect the muscles, joints, tendons and bones. The negative impact that they have on workers’ quality of life is clear.

At a press conference in Brussels to mark the official launch of the campaign, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, highlighted the urgent need to take action:

“Ensuring the best possible work environment is critical for the health and wellbeing of the workforce, and therefore a duty of all employers. Many of us – three in five – have experienced backache, stiff muscles or a sore neck as a result of our work. This can severely affect our everyday lives, our productivity, and it can be detrimental to our physical and mental health.”

MSDs also incur significant costs for employers and national health systems. Christa Sedlatschek, EU-OSHA Executive Director, emphasised that:

“In addition to the human suffering caused, workers miss out on so many fulfilling aspects of their private and working lives. Those workers with MSDs are absent from work more often and for longer periods, are likely to be less productive while at work and often take early retirement. This is bad news for businesses and a huge burden on national economies.”

Measures to prevent and manage MSDs are often simple and inexpensive, and this is one of the key messages of the Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load campaign. Supporting workers with chronic MSDs to remain in work will also be a key focus, along with the need to consider psychosocial risks and worker diversity, and to adopt collaborative approaches to MSD management – involving workers, employers, healthcare providers and other stakeholders.

Special attention will be given to emerging risks, arising from, for instance, digitalisation and new technologies and ways of organising work. This is particularly timely in light of COVID-19, which has forced many workers out of offices and into working from home. MSDs and home-based teleworking is a priority area for the campaign.

There are risk factors causing MSDs in many types of work, so you should think about the risks of various tasks, depending on the work you do:

• Bending, crouching or stooping.
• Lifting heavy or bulky loads.
• Pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads.
• Stretching, twisting and reaching.
• Repetitive work, particularly using the same hand or arm action.
• Sustained or excessive force.
• Carrying out a task for a long time.
• Work with display screen equipment.
• Working with handheld power tools for a long time.
• Driving heavy vehicles, long-distance driving or driving over rough ground.

The risk factors can also be to do with the work environment or organisation:

• Poor working environment (including temperature and lighting).
• Poor work organisation (including work pressure, job demands and lack of work breaks). Stressand other psychosocial factors can contribute to the risk of developing MSDs.

They can also be to do with the workers themselves:

• A recent or existing injury or health condition may make them more vulnerable.
• Individual differences (some workers are more affected by certain risks).
• Vulnerable groups, for example, young people, disabled workers, pregnant workers, those new to the job.
• Working beyond their capability.
• Working when physically tired.

You must consult with your workers or their elected representatives on health and safety issues. They know what they find difficult and often know how to improve things. Talking to them about how to improve health and safety will also make it easier to agree changes. Workers will be more likely to follow procedures they have helped design.

Further guidance can be found on the HSE MSDs webpage.

Find out more about EU-OSHA’s Health Workplaces Lighten the Load campaign here.