Musculoskeletal Health in Europe Work related musculoskeletal disorders and trauma

1. Musculoskeletal Health in Europe Work related musculoskeletal disorders and trauma

2. Musculoskeletal disorders • Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) is the most commonly used term for musculoskeletal problems that relate to occupational diseases and accidents at work. • Work related MSDs include “all musculoskeletal disorders that are induced or aggravated by work and the circumstances of its performance.” (WHO 2003) • Most MSDs are chronic and only occur after exposure to work based risk factors over a period of time.

3. Work and Musculoskeletal Conditions • Musculoskeletal conditions limit work capacity • eg ostearthritis of the hip or knee prevents many people aged over 50 years working • Work causes musculoskeletal disorders • eg heavy work causes back pain, repetitive work related to upper limb problems X WORK X

4. Workers exposure to risk factors for development of MSC

5. Data on MSDs • It is difficult to obtain comprehensive European data on MSDs which are comparable due to differences in definitions and the way work-related health disorders are recorded (WHO 2003). • Sources of data include national statistics, insurance figures, national and European surveys. These include: European Working Conditions Survey Labour Force Survey European Occupational Diseases Statistics (EODS)

6. MSDs form high proportion of occupational diseases According to the European Occupational Disease Statistics in 2005 MSDs constituted 38% of the total EODS occupational diseases which were recorded in 12 Member States.

7. Labour Force Survey • A good comparative source of data for estimating the scale of work related musculoskeletal disorders in the European working population is the Self-reported Work-related Illness (SWI) questionnaire module in the national Labour Force Survey (LFS). • The LFS allows for the calculation of the estimated number of people with a work-related illness at any time during the 12-month reference period. It includes the full range of musculoskeletal illnesses from long standing to new cases; and also the estimated incidence, the estimated number of new cases of work-related illness occurring in the 12 month reference period i.e. people first becoming aware of their illness in this 12 month period.

8. Work related health problems • According to the 2007 Labour Force Survey in the EU27 8.6% of those aged 15-64 who worked (or had worked previously) reported a work-related problem in the past 12 months. • Musculoskeletal problems were the most often reported work related health problem (60%). • 50% of persons reporting a work-related health problem experienced some limitations in the ability to carry out daily activities, 22% reported having considerable limitations. • In those with musculoskeletal problems of the hip, legs or feet 54% reported some limitations and 19% considerable limitations. In those with back problems 56% reported some limitations and 15% considerable limitations.

9. Most serious work-related health problems in past 12 months

10. Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, sex

11. Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, age Work-related problems increased with age, the increase slowed in workers aged 55 to 64 which may be because unhealthy workers leave the workforce early (Eurostat 2010). This pattern is also true of those with MSD.

12. Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, age

13. Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, education • Low educated workers reported work-related problems more often and were more likely to report MSDs as the most serious work-related problem. In 68% of those with low educational level with a work-related health problem MSD was the main problem. For those in the high level of education classification this was true for 44%.

14. MSD in past 12 months by education

15. Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, occupation • Of those with an occupational disease most men worked in manufacturing or construction and most women worked in wholesale, retail and trade or health and social work. • MSD were most often reported as the main work related health problem in manual workers and was lowest in highly skilled non-manual workers.

16. Work-related health problem by occupation 2007

17. Accidents at work In 2005 18.1% of non-fatal accidents were attributable to “physical stress on the musculoskeletal system”

18. Accidents – physical stress • Non-fatal accidents arising from “physical stress on the musculoskeletal system” occurred mostly frequently in the construction industry (18.2 % of occurrences) and in health and social work (10%). • It was the most common mode of non-fatal injury in all sectors of activity. • Approximately 28% of cases of physical stress in the musculoskeletal system was caused by lifting, carrying and standing up.

19. Accidents at work – amputations, bone fractures EU-15 & Norway 2000-2007

20. eumusc.net is an information and surveillance network promoting a comprehensive European strategy to optimise musculoskeletal health. It addresses the prevention and management of MSC’s which is neither equitable nor a priority within most EU member states. It is focused on raising the awareness of musculoskeletal health and harmonising the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. It is a 3 year project that began in February 2010. It is supported by the European Community (EC Community Action in the Field of Health 2008-2013), the project is a network of institutions, researchers and individuals in 22 organisations across 17 countries, working with and through EULAR. eumusc.net: creating a web-based information resource to drive musculoskeletal health in Europe www.eumusc.net Disclaimer The Executive Agency for Health and Consumers is not responsible for any use that is made of the information contained within this publication