Austria: Preventing musculoskeletal disorders in a large hospital through staff involvement and an age-sensitive approach

The work of some 600 older support staff at University Hospital Vienna, the largest hospital in Austria, is physically strenuous. A new work environment designed to accommodate this ageing workforce was needed. With the involvement and participation of workers, the hospital introduced measures such as ergonomically designed patient transfer chairs to prevent MSDs. Mixed-generation cleaning teams and workshops were also part of the wide-ranging measures. University Hospital Vienna is one of the winners of the 15th Healthy Workplaces Good Practice Awards competition.