## 1 Introduction  
Industry 5.0, the evolution beyond Industry 4.0, is set to transform industrial settings by prioritizing the well-being and safety of the workforce [1]. With an aging population impacting modern production systems, there is a pressing need to integrate older employees effectively [2, 3]. This involves evaluating age-critical tasks and adapting technologies to suit the cognitive and sensorial capacities of aging workers [4]. In Industry 5.0, improving working conditions and task performance for older workers through innovative technologies is crucial. Human centrality lies at the core of Industry 5.0, empowering workers through collaboration with digital technologies [1, 5]. This shift underscores the synchronization of human capabilities with machine or equipment functionalities to bolster production efficiency [6]. Despite this, a notable gap exists in safety and human-centric design within this framework [7]. By fostering ergonomic workspaces and human-robot partnerships, Industry 5.0 can mitigate musculoskeletal issues and enhance worker well-being [2, 3].  
Workers' well-being and ergonomics play vital roles in various industries, including computer users and manufacturing workers, with numerous studies underscoring the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among these workers [8, 9, 10].  
In addition, there is an increasing diversity in the workforce in terms of both age and gender, that is, the rise of an aging workforce and the increase and balance of the female gender in the workplace. Despite this, the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms is higher in older workers than in younger workers [11]. Studies reveal that older workers have a higher prevalence of more severe or fatal injuries when compared to younger operators, where less severe injuries predominate [12]. Aging workers with a high prevalence of WRMSDs incur significant costs for companies and contribute to job losses and early retirements [11]. Therefore, equipment and work systems must adapt to workers to reduce musculoskeletal risks and promote health, well-being, and job satisfaction, especially for those who have extended their active working life [11].  
The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) serves as a crucial tool for evaluating MSDs and ergonomic factors, pinpointing high-risk areas like the lower back, neck, and shoulders [13]. Emphasizing the significance of proper training, ergonomic workshops, and proactive measures, industries intend to foster health-conscious work postures and healthy routines and alleviate musculoskeletal discomfort. The NMQ's widespread use in diverse studies across various occupational settings underscores its reliability and validity in identifying musculoskeletal risks, especially in tasks involving repetitive movements. Its applicability spans different worker populations, showcasing high specificity and reliability [14]. Consequently, the NMQ emerges as a valuable instrument for evaluating and addressing musculoskeletal concerns within work environments.  
Thus, by administering questionnaires to workers, their participation and involvement in the appropriate application of participatory ergonomic interventions can be enhanced, thereby promoting and raising awareness among the groups involved, which is often neglected [15]. Studies show that through worker participation, effective and sustainable transformations of workplace interventions have been achieved. Notably, this includes prioritizing workers' needs, engaging management in occupational safety and health, and fostering a positive and motivating work environment that builds trust among workers [16].  
This study focuses on the sociodemographic assessment and symptomatology of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in a Portuguese polishing industry using a questionnaire in a real industrial environment. This analysis and evaluation were performed by gender and age clusters.