Musculoskeletal Health in Europe Work related musculoskeletal disorders and

trauma

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.

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

WORK

X

X

Workers exposure to risk factors for development of MSC

Workers exposed to risk factors for MSC

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Pe

rce

nt

ex

po

se

d

Vibrations

Painful or tiringpositions

Prolonged standingor walking

Carrying/movingheavy loads

Repetitive hand orarm movements

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)

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.

EODS proportion of occupational diseases 2005

0.5

5.1

20.9

12.8

14.37.1

38.1

Infections

Cancers

Neurologic al diseaes

Disease of sensoryorgans

Respiratory diseases

Skin diseases

Musculoskeletal diseases

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.

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.

Most serious work-related health problems in past 12 monthsPercentage reporting most serious work-related health problem in past 12 months,

2007

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Musculoskeletal disorders

Stress, depression, anxiety

Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, sex

Persons reporting MSDs as most serious work-related health problem in past 12 months by sex

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Bulgar

ia

Roman

ia

Lithuan

ia

France

Czech

Repub

lic

Portugal UK

Italy

Latvia

EU27

Greece

Irela

nd

Nether

lands

Sloven

ia

Estonia

Belgiu

m

Cyprus

Mal

ta

Slovak

ia

SwedenSpai

n

Denmar

k

Hungary

Poland

Luxem

bourg

Finlan

d

Austria

Germ

any

Per

cen

t

Male

Female

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.

Work related problems by sociodemographic factors, age

Person reporting MSD as most serious work-related disorder by age, 2010

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

BulgariaRomaniaLithuania

CzechFrance

ItalyUK

EU27EstoniaIreland

GreecePortugal

NetherlandsCyprus

MaltaBelgiumSloveniaSweden

DenmarkSlovakiaHungary

LatviaLuxembourg

SpainPolandAustriaFinland

Germany

15-24

25-34

35-44

45-64

55-64

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%.

MSD in past 12 months by education

Persons reporting MSD as most serious work-related health problem in the past 12 months by education

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

BulgariaRomaniaLithuania

CzechSlovakia

UKEstoniaIreland

ItalyHungary

FrancePortugal

MaltaEU27

NetherlandsGreecePoland

BelgiumSwedenCyprus

SpainLatvia

DenmarkAustria

LuxembourgFinland

SloveniaGermany

Pre-primary, primary & lowersecondary

Upper secondary & post-secondary non-tertiary

Tertiary

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.

Work-related health problem by occupation 2007

Type of work-related health problem in past 12 months by occupation sector

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other community, socialand personalservice activities

Health and social work

Education

Public administration and defence;compulsory social security

Real estate, renting & business activities

Financial intermediation

Transport, storage and communication

Hotels & restaurants

Wholesale retail trade, repair

Construction

Manufacturing

Bone, joint ormuscle

Stress, anxietyor depression

Other

Accidents at work

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

Top 5 modes of injury accounting for highest number of non-fatal accidents at work, 2005

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300000

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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.

Accidents at work – amputations, bone fractures EU-15 & Norway

2000-2007Number of accidents at work by type of injury EU-15 +Norway (4 days

absence or more)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Num

ber

in 1

,000

s

Amputations

Bone fractures

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