Text

Introduction: In Germany, many occupations still involve a high physical workload. Such exposure is related to a wide range of health risks, particularly to the musculoskeletal system. To focus preventive measures on employees at high risk due to physical workloads, current data on the prevalence of exposure in occupations is needed. The aim of this study was to describe the current prevalence of exposure to different types of physical workload among the German workforce.

Methods: The study used data from the representative BiBB/BAuA employment survey 2024 (n=20,006 employees). Data were collected via telephone interviews. The analyses were limited to full-time workers (>35 hours per week) aged 15–67 years. We considered the following types pf physical workload: manual handling of heavy loads (men: >20 kg, women: >10 kg); sitting for >1 h / working day; standing for >1/h per working day; repetitive manual work; and working overhead; working while kneeling and generally physically demanding work. Participants rated how often they were exposed to each factor (“never”, “seldom”, “sometimes” and “frequently”). ISCO-08 was used to categorize the current job. The prevalence of exposure per type of physical workload is reported in general terms, as well as per occupational group (major group, first place of ISCO-08). The calculation considered the weighting for the German workforce. Complex Samples (SPSS were used to derive estimates with 95%-CI.

Results: After applying the inclusion criteria, the analysis considered 14,460 employees (67.3% men and 32.7% women). 46.11% (44.61%–47.61%) of all employees reported sitting for more than 1 hour per day at work “frequently”. 64.02% (62.56%–65.46%) of employees indicated that sitting for more than an hour is ‘frequent’ during the working day. 17.94% (16.77%–19.19%) of employees reported frequently handling heavy loads. Repetitive manual operations were indicated as ‘frequent’ by 31.95% (30.54%–33.39%) of employees, kneeling by 11.55% (10.57%–12.60%), overhead work by 6.36% (5.62%–7.19%), and a generally physically demanding workload by 14.40% (13.33%–15.53%). The prevalence of ‘frequent’ exposure to manual operations, standing, manual handling and kneeling was highest among agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (ISCO-08 Major Group 6), craft and related trade workers (ISCO-08 Major Group 7), and elementary occupations workers (ISCO-08 Major Group 9). The prevalence of exposure to different types of physical workload varies significantly depending on occupational group, workload type and gender.

Discussion: The results confirm the current importance of physical workloads in the German workforce. The data confirm close associations between these physical workloads and typical health disorders. Preventative approaches should focus on employees in occupations with high prevalence of combined high physical workload. Germany uses such data to priorities national actions.