Ergonomics and back health in the workplace

Some occupational groups have a significantly increased risk of back problems and other musculoskeletal disorders. This is especially true for jobs where stress factors from physical work play a significant role. Blue collar workers are therefore particularly susceptible in manual occupations - in both manufacturing and the service sectors.

Back complaints and musculoskeletal disorders arise when movements, postures or the handling of loads become too one-sided, too frequent or extreme. Typical physical stresses include ergonomically unfavourable working conditions such as:

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG in Germany) provides the legal framework for the ergonomics duty of care in the workplace. According to §3 ArbschG, it is one of the general basic duties of the employer to ensure the safety and health of employees at work through occupational safety and health measures. Thus, within the framework of a risk assessment, the employer must determine the hazards present in the workplace (e.g. due to physical stress) and take sufficient preventive and protective measures.

The Ordinance on the Handling of Loads (LastenhandhabV) specifies this specifically with regard to the manual lifting, carrying, pulling or pushing of loads at work. It specifies, for example, that manual handling of loads must be avoided or kept to a minimum by using suitable work equipment (§2 LasthandhabV).

In the UK the HSE has outlined its guidelines on human factors and ergonomics in the workplace with its Human Factors Delivery Guide. Find out more here.

First of all, the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace must be identified. This is done with the help of a risk assessment.

To identify hazards, you can use findings from occupational health screenings, statutory regulations and technical guidelines, as well as information from the insurance institutions. An inspection of the workplace and the involvement and questioning of employees are also essential sources of information.

It is essential to bear in mind the mere presence of stressful activities does not say anything about their risk potential. To assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as back problems, it is always necessary to determine the level, duration and frequency of physical stress.

Individual factors such as age, gender, experience and physical fitness can also have an influence and should therefore be included in the analysis. Suitable preventive measures should be taken from the findings on the type and level of hazards.

The STOP principle applies when looking at preventive measures:

S Substitution

T Technical measures

O Organisational measures

P Personal measures

The order in which the measures are listed also corresponds to the order of priority of the measures to be taken. First of all, it must be checked whether work steps that are hazardous to the musculoskeletal system can be replaced (substituted) by other work steps that are not hazardous. If stresses cannot be avoided, they must be minimised (minimisation principle). In accordance with the STOP principle, technical measures have priority over organisational or personal measures. There are many technical options on the market for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. In the following, we show 4 products that have proven themselves in practice.

Use technical aids for load handling. Aids for internal transport reduce the use of human muscle power to a minimum and prevent back problems. These include transport carts, trolleys, hand carts or transport rollers. Lifting heavy loads is made easier with equipment such as pallet trucks, crane arms or hoists. Important to know: The Load Handling Ordinance (Germany) requires the use of mechanical equipment to counteract hazards caused by manual handling of loads.

It has been proven that standing for long periods and working on hard surfaces can lead to permanent damage to the back. With ergonomic workplace mats (also: anti-fatigue mats), you benefit from a significant reduction in strain. Ergonomic workplace mats consist of cushioning or resilient materials such as vinyl foam or rubber with a high material thickness and a structured surface (e.g. grooves or studs). In this way, ergonomic workplace mats cushion the impact load during movement and stimulate beneficial micro-movements and stimulation of the muscles during prolonged standing.

The benefit for employees:

Another way to avoid the negative effects of constant standing or sitting is to change your posture regularly. This is because permanent and one-sided posture is harmful to the back and musculoskeletal system. A balanced combination of standing, sitting and walking should therefore be aimed for at the workplace. Work chairs and stools should therefore provide employees with ergonomic seating options. The purchase of a standing aid can also provide noticeable relief for standing activities in the workshop or production. A standing aid is significantly higher than a classic work stool and enables the user to "lean" ergonomically at standing workplaces.