EU Health and Safety Week to focus on back pain at work
Posted, October 23, 2007 @ 00:00
A series of information campaigns and research activities aiming to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) sustained in the workplace will culminate this week in the EU health and safety week entitled 'Lighten the Load'.
Musculoskeletal disorders include back and neck pain as well as inflammation-related conditions such as RSI or work-related upper limb disorder, among other complaints.
According to the agency responsible for health and safety at work at the European level, OSHA, MSDs now represent more than half of serious work-related diseases. Some 30 per cent of workers - 44 million people across Europe - complain of backache thought to be related to their job.
Conservative MEP Philip Bushill-Matthews, coordinator for Employment and Social Affairs for the centre-right in the European Parliament, said:
"The campaign highlights the need for employers, employees and health and safety professionals to work together to reduce the incidence of what can be very debilitating conditions."
The European Commission is thought to be considering action on the issue, which may include legislation. Following a consultation exercise, they stated that work which requires awkward positions, monotonous and repetitive tasks, inappropriate work methods and organisation as well as heavy lifting are all associated with musculoskeletal disorders. They also noted that at present there is no legislation dealing with this at a European level.
The ETUC, the trade union organisation, emphasised the need for a single European directive on MSDs to demonstrate a comprehensive approach and address any legal ambiguity.
Organisations representing business consider that existing legal frameworks thoroughly provide for MSDs however. They would like to concentrate on the prevention of such disorders through the provision of workplace toolkits to bridge the information gap.
UEAMPE, the small business organisation, expressed concern about legislative burden on SMEs and claimed personal factors outside the workplace can also contribute to the development of MSDs.