Why is it an EU issue?

MSDs affect millions of European workers across all employment sectors, with the highest rates found in the agriculture and construction sectors.

The cost to individual companies, individual workers and their families, and to Europe and society at large, is high. MSDs not only result in high costs due to medical and social security expenses, and lost productivity, but also result in personal suffering for many workers.

Any worker can be affected, yet the problem can be prevented or reduced by following existing health and safety regulations, and is preventable by applying proper risk assessments, putting in place appropriate preventive measures based on guidance and good practice, and checking that these measures remain effective.

Lighten the load seeks to promote an integrated management approach to tackle MSDs embracing prevention of MSDs, and the retention, rehabilitation and reintegration of workers who already suffer from MSDs to make workplaces safer and healthier. What is needed is a holistic approach to MSDs that integrates both primary prevention and the return to work of those who suffer an MSD.

EU policy context

• The Lisbon strategy objectives provide not only for an employment activity rate of 70% by 2010, but also for the creation of more and better jobs in Europe. Tackling MSDs, the major work-related health problem, would contribute to the achievement of this objective
• The Community strategy on occupational safety and health at work (OSH) 2002-2006 identifies MSDs as a priority area for strengthening the prevention of occupational illnesses
• EU legislation, including amongst others the Framework, Manual Handling, and Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Directives, is in place
• Member States have identified ergonomic risk factors, and manual handling and repetitive work as OSH priorities
• Social partners in their position papers on the new Community OSH strategy state MSDs as a priority
• There is a momentum at the European level

Visit www.handlingloads.eu, the Europe-wide Campaign on manual handling developed by Europe’s Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee (SLIC)