SP0178 The contribution of occupational safety and health to working with rmds

Too often chronic illness leads to early exit from the workplace. However, with the right employer attitudes and workplace adjustments combined with support from the public health system many can continue working. Occupational safety and health (OSH) has an important role to play in a multidisciplinary approach to facilitating individuals with chronic diseases to continue working. This paper covers: European Union OSH policy and directives; findings from a European Parliament pilot project on older workers and OSH, carried out by EU-OSHA and EU-OSHA’s work on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). At EU level the key policy covering workplace safety and health is the Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework 2014–2020. The European Commission’s 2017 Communication ’Safer and Healthier Work for All – Modernisation of the European Union OSH Legislation and Policy’ sets out actions for the Strategic Framework. Of relevance is the need to tackle better issues of growing concern, such as work-related MSDs, psychosocial risks and work-force ageing, by exploiting the full potential of the OSH framework. A top action is helping business with diversity-sensitive risk assessment, e.g. in relation to older workers, gender, or disability and working with chronic diseases. Safe and healthy working conditions are a key component of retaining older workers and workers with chronic diseases and making work sustainable across the life-course. The OSH role is to ensure work does not worsen conditions and to promote health and wellbeing. The EU ‘framework’ directive on occupational safety and health provides a management system for this based on risk assessment by employers. The first priority is to take collective measures which will make work safer, healthier and easier for all the workforce. The directive also includes the general principle of adapting work to the worker. Eliminating and reducing the risks of work-related MSDs and stress management measures are examples of risk reduction that would benefit all the workforce, but could be particularly important for RMD sufferers. The framework directive also requires employers to assess the risks to any ‘vulnerable’ workers. Additional health and safety measures should be provided where necessary. Often measures for vulnerable workers will make work easier for all workers, such as equipment to reduce the physical effort of work. Measures can often be very simple such as a different kind of mouse or keyboard. The OHS risk assessment process is appropriate for determining what workplace adaptations may be needed for those with reduced or changed work ability to continue working. Thus OHS directives complement the requirement in disability discrimination legislation for employers to make workplace accommodations for individual workers with disabilities. One health and safety measure that could benefit all workers as well as RMD sufferers would be to take measures to avoid prolonged working in constrained and static postures and promote a moving routine in the office. Prolonged sitting is problematic however ergonomic the chair. One measure is to use sit-stand desks. Office cultures and routines need to change, e.g. going into the next door office to speak to a colleague instead of sending an email. To support an agreement of the European Parliament on older workers, EU-OSHA carried out a project on OSH in the context of the ageing workforce. Key conclusions concerning return-to-work were as follows: Early intervention is key with a focus on staying in existing work Multidisciplinary programmes are needed to support companies and employees Return-to-work should be a clinical (treatment) outcome A greater public health focus is needed on non-life threatening chronic diseases, e.g. MSDs Joined-up policy, interventions and budgets are needed For early detection and prevention, access to occupational health services, work health surveillance and workplace health promotion is needed for the whole working population. EU-OSHA has begun a major project on MSDs, culminating in a European Campaign in 2020–2021. Working with chronic MSDs is part of this work. Concluding messages: OSH measures which make work easier for all the workforce can enable an individual with reduced work capacity to remain in employment Simple measures to support an individual remain in work can often benefit the whole workforce With the right employer attitudes and workplace adjustments combined with support from public health services many RMD suffers can continue working OSH measures which make work easier for all the workforce can enable an individual with reduced work capacity to remain in employment Simple measures to support an individual remain in work can often benefit the whole workforce With the right employer attitudes and workplace adjustments combined with support from public health services many RMD suffers can continue working This requires a strong and progressive OSH system, extended to wellbeing and sustainable work, which provides full access to occupational services for all workers and smal businesses. https://osha.europa.eu/en/themes/osh-management-context-ageing-workforce/ep-osh-project Disclosure of Interest None declared