Affiliations: [a] Safety and Health Department, RMCI, A Coruña, Spain | [b] Health Care and Rehabilitation, Mutua Gallega de Accidentes Rehabilitation Society, Spain | [c] Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, Spain | [d] Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Technology School, Barcelos, Portugal
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: José Maria Rivas Moar, Safety and Health Department, RMCI, Ada. Alfonso Molina, 6 1°D 15006, A Coruña, Spain. E-mail:josem.rivas.moar@gmail.com
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are diseases of high prevalence. The extent
to which our work is causing or aggravating them is still questioned because
their causes are heterogeneous and usually combined in the same person, and
can be attributed to any of them. OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this paper is to compare Spain with the rest of Europe
concerning MSDs. METHODS:
The study is based on a comparison
between Spanish and European data. The difficulty is that the lists of
occupational diseases in the various States of the European Union (EU) are
different, and therefore it is difficult to compare data. The study compares two types of data: the views of workers, and the official
results of workplace accidents. In the first case, the results of the VII
Spanish National Survey of Working Conditions were compared to the V
European Working Conditions Survey. In the second case, we compare accident
data, published by the Spanish Labour Authorities, to data provided by
Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Communities). RESULTS:
During the development of this study, we have
proved
the importance and
significance of MSDs on the Spanish working population in relation to the
European one. First, we have discovered a great difference between Spanish and European
workers views about the relationship between work and heath. Then, we detected some more important ergonomics risk factors within the
Spanish workforces' opinions. These are repetitive movements, tiring
positions, and exposure to vibrations. However concerning heavy loads,
lifting or moving people, the views of Spanish workers are more carefree
than European ones. If we only consider the official results of workplace accidents and
diseases, we find Spanish rates higher than the European average. CONCLUSIONS:
The incidence of MSDs on the Spanish working population significantly
exceeds European records in this matter. MSDs account for between 35-40%
of Work Accidents and between 70-88% of Occupational Diseases in Spain
so, we can see why Spain has one of the top Occupational Accidents rates in
Europe. Spain should try to improve this issue by concentrating only on three
factors: repetitive work of upper extremities, tiring positions and exposure
to vibrations.
Keywords: Work-related diseases, Labour Statistics and Health and Safety Survey
