Prevalence of physical workloads in the German workforce and its associations to musculoskeletal disorders

  • Project number: F 2456
  • Institution: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
  • Status: Completed Project

Description:

Symptoms in the musculoskeletal system are reported very frequently in the current workforce. Many employees are exposed to physical workloads, even in the current world of work. Therefore, representative and updated information are needed for policy advice on the frequency of job related exposure to physical workload and related symptoms taking into account the changes in working conditions in Germany.

One aim of the project was to use the data from the BiBB/BAuA employment survey 2018 to present the distribution of self-reported data on the frequency of stress from various types of physical workload, stratified according to occupational groups. The types of workload analyzed were lifting and carrying loads, working in unfavorable postures, repetitive work, standing and uninterrupted sitting. The analyses were based on data of the current cross-sectional and representative BiBB/BAuA employment survey 2018. In addition, the relative frequency of symptoms in different regions of the musculoskeletal system was analysed in relation to the self-rated intensity of physical workload considering relevant confounders. Employees between the ages of 15 and 67 who worked more than 35 hours per week were included in the analyses. The relationship between the self-reported frequency of physical workload and the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms was estimated based on regression models. Risk ratios are reported as estimates. For example, the analysis for the self-reported frequency of lifting and carrying loads included 14,249 subjects (61.5% men, 38.5% women). Of these, 52.9% reported to handle heavy loads frequently. Subjects who “frequently” performed manual handling of heavy loads had a 1.4 times higher risk to suffer from low back pain in the last 12 months.

The evaluation of the BIBB/BAuA employment survey 2018 underlines that exposure to physical workloads is still frequent in many occupational groups. The established association to musculoskeletal symptoms could be proven. Preventive measures (e.g. risk assessment and occupational health measures) remain of crucial importance to reduce physical workload.

Publications

Association between working in awkward postures, in particular overhead work, and pain in the shoulder region in the context of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Assoziation zwischen Manuellen Arbeitsprozessen und Schmerzen im Bereich der Hände in der BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Manual handling of heavy loads and low back pain among different occupational groups: results of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

The association between manual handling operations and pain in the hands and arms in the context of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Berufliches Sitzens und Beschwerden im Muskel-Skelett-System - Auswertung auf Basis der BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Heben und Tragen schwerer Lasten als berufliche Expositionen in verschiedenen Berufsgruppen und Rückenschmerzen - Ergebnisse der BIBB/BAuA Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Körperzwangshaltungen (Arbeiten über Kopf) und deren Assoziation zu Schmerzen im Nacken-Schulter-Bereich - themenspezifische Auswertung einer Querschnittsbefragung deutscher Erwerbstätiger

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Stehen während der Arbeit - Prävalenz von Schmerzen in den Beinen

Publishing year: 2021

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Association between awkward working postures, in particular overhead work and arm pain in the context of the "BIBB/BAuA Labour Force Survey 2017/2018"

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Assoziation von Heben und Tragen schwerer Lasten als berufliche Exposition und Rückenschmerzen - Themenspezifische Auswertung der BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung zwischen Selbstangaben zur Häufigkeit manueller Arbeitsprozesse und Beschwerden im Bereich der Arme in der BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Häufigkeit des beruflichen Sitzens sowie Zusammenhänge zu Beschwerden im Muskel-Skelett-System auf Basis der BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018

Publishing year: 2020

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Stehen während der Arbeit und geschwollene Beine

Publishing year: 2019

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Zusammenhang zwischen selbst empfundener emotionaler Arbeitsbelastung und Prävalenz an Herzschmerzen bei Erwerbstätigen in Deutschland

Publishing year: 2015

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Zusammenhang zwischen selbst empfundener emotionaler Arbeitsbelastung und Prävalenz an Herzschmerzen bei Erwerbstätigen in Deutschland

Publishing year: 2015

Suchergebnis_Format Article

find out more

Further Information

Contact

Unit 3.1 "Prevention of Work-related Diseases"

Phone: +49 231 9071-1971
Fax: +49 231 9071-2070