Background

Work-related posture and musculo-skeletal disorders are a common problem in Europe, and this is recognised by the European Commission.

The social consequences of this, in the form of a growing number of people registered as (long-term) disabled, are due to the fact that some groups of workers are less effectively protected against health risks arising from the manual handling of heavy loads.

The economic consequences are reflected in the social and medical costs to the state and the reduced availability of individuals for work, combined with a working population that is becoming older and consists of a growing number of female workers. In the EU’s health and safety strategy for 2002-2006, the European Commission has indicated that it wants to match EU health and safety policy to the work-related problems associated with a greying working population in which the proportion of women is growing, and with changing forms of employment.

One aspect of the European Commission’s action programme is to increase the focus on the prevention of work-related illnesses, in respect of which priority must be given to e.g. musculo-skeletal disorders.

The European Commission is particularly concerned to ensure the improved application of EU legislation, with a key position given to the SLIC in EU strategy.