This series of short informative case studies looks at a range of policy level initiatives across Europe and beyond aiming to prevent and manage work-related MSDs. The studies focus on achievements, factors contributing to their success and challenges encountered, and transferability to other...

The UK legislative framework addressing MSDs has been in place for nearly 40 years, and the policy approach is to inform and enable employers, encouraging them to address risks. The strategy under discussion is the latest in a series of initiatives stretching back 20 years. MSDs are addressed under...

This case study looks at how an experienced police officer suffering from lower back pain and other MSDs has been able to continue to work with the police thanks to a change in role.

ARTEX is a small sewing plant with 14 female employees working five-day single shifts. Repetitive tasks, performed seated, increase the risk of MSDs. In addition to legally-required medical checks, assessment of individual workstations led to improvements in work organisation, layout and equipment...

Case study 5.6 in this report: A large retail bakery in the United Kingdom decided to take the opportunity of refurbishment plans to reduce the risk of upper-limb disorders in its predominately female workforce. Independent ergonomists assessed the suitability of its current food preparation benches...

All the organisation of work associated with the grape harvesting and transportation to the processing equipment was implemented with the objective of reducing, as much as possible, the manual effort associated with the transportation of grapes from the vines to the processing equipment and...

Traditionally the collecting of fruits was performed using mobile ladders (extension ladders and double sided step ladders). The efficiency of the collection process was very low and the risk to accidents and health problems to the workers was very high. Simultaneously to reduce workload on the...