Text

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) impose a substantial burden on populations, societies, healthcare systems, and workplaces worldwide. Despite decades of prevention efforts, MSDs and their overall burden remain high in the working population – particularly among workers in physically demanding jobs. There is a pressing need for workplace interventions that not only demonstrate effectiveness but are also tailored to real-world conditions and meaningful for workers and organizations in a changing world of work.

Both musculoskeletal disorders and workplaces are highly complex, and multiple workplace-related factors across different organizational levels influence both the development of MSDs and the success of preventive efforts. This complexity must be acknowledged and addressed when developing, testing, and implementing adequate interventions. Without this contextual awareness, even promising approaches risk limited impact.

This semi-plenary keynote is centered on workplace interventions to prevent MSDs among workers in physically demanding jobs. Drawing on intervention and review studies from our research group at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA), it takes a dive into workplaces – such as slaughterhouses, construction sites, eldercare, and childcare institutions – and presents examples of physical exercise programs, ergonomics, and multifaceted strategies.

Along the way, the keynote will touch on both individualized prevention strategies and structurally anchored approaches, and emphasize the opportunity that lies in embedding interventions directly into how work is organized and planned, to drive sustainable improvements in employee health. Building on this, it will explore future potentials for promoting musculoskeletal health – including organizing and designing work to support health, the use of new technologies, and improving organizational health literacy.