Executive Summary – Musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risk factors in the workplace — statistical analysis of EU-wide survey data

This report presents a conceptual framework to explain work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and mental wellbeing. It analyses data from the latest European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER) to explore how job characteristics of individual workers (such as biomechanical and psychosocial factors) and company-level occupational safety and health management practices are related to MSDs and wellbeing.

Finding that some psychosocial factors strongly influence MSDs and wellbeing, the report provides recommendations and highlights the need for holistic risk assessments, to minimise negative health outcomes at workplace level.