European Week for Safety and Health at Work
European Week 'Turn your back on musculoskeletal disorders' 9 to 13 October 2000
Musculoskeletal disorders cover a wide variety of health problems. The most important are back pain, back injury, RSI and also various problems with the arms, shoulders and neck.
The likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders has increased in recent years due to certain factors or combinations of factors such as e.g. manual lifting of loads, too little or awkward movements, repetitive movements, a high work rate and vibration. These factors often cause physical overloading that may ultimately result in musculoskeletal disorders. Millions of people in Europe suffer from musculoskeletal disorders (including RSI) as a result of the work and work processes. The associated costs amount to thousands of millions of euros and can be traced back to productivity loss and ever increasing medical costs (absenteeism due to illness) and costs to society.
There are strong indications that the number of people affected by these disorders is increasing. According to a European study from 2000 30% of the employees complain about back pain, 17% about muscle pain in the arms and legs, while 45% say that they work in a painful or tiring position. Women are more at risk here than men. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a very common health problem in all sectors and professions. The study also showed that in some countries musculoskeletal disorders are now the most common work-related illness. Many complaints and pain can, however, be prevented or at least considerably reduced simply by complying with existing regulations in the areas of health and safety and making use of good practices with regard to the arrangement of the workplace and work processes. Improving the workplace does not only mean alleviating physical overloading of the employees, it also has advantages for the business sector!
In 2000 an appeal was made in the EU member states for the development of projects important for small and medium-sized companies. A subsidy of approximately 100,000 guilders was available for each country. At the Dutch Focal Point (the link between the Netherlands and Europe in the area of working conditions) five proposals for this were received. Of these two were selected and submitted to the European Agency for subsidies that they subsequently obtained. One of these two proposals was a small and medium-sized enterprises project that is aimed at setting up an 'RSI information centre'. The other project came from the TNO Quality of Life and involves the presentation and distribution of a book with 'good practices' from the SME sector on 'Healthier and faster assembly'. The results were presented during the European week in October.
Within the framework of the European Week the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment organised a European conference on RSI complaints for experts on 30 may 2000. During the seminar knowledge and experience were exchanged and joint recommendations were formulated. The conference participants found that factors that cause RSI such as posture, movement and work pressure occur in an increasing number of sectors and professions. Attention was drawn to the importance of exchanging good practices that should be applied more broadly. RSI should be given top priority at European level in the working conditions policy. Some recommendations: the member states of the European Union should draw up a national action plan with measures to prevent RSI. The European Commission should stimulate the member states to draw up targets to reduce the number of RSI complaints.
In the Netherlands approximately half of the three million employees working with VDUs have problems with their neck, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers to a greater or lesser extent. RSI can also affect other professions such as butchers, check-out assistants and hairdressers.
This week was initiated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and was held at the same time in all member states. More information is available on the European Week in the other member states on http://ew2000.osha.europa.eu/. The European Week was organised in the Netherlands by Focal Point Nederland.
