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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common cause of illness-related incapacity to work in Germany, accounting for around 23% of all cases. Occupational health care is an important tool for the prevention and early detection of work-related illnesses on the one hand and for restoring the ability to work in the case of existing illnesses (including advice on reintegration processes) on the other. Based on the Ordinance on Occupational Medical Prevention (ArbMedVV), the occupational health rule AMR 13.2 “Tasks with significantly increased physical stress with health risks for the musculoskeletal system” specifies when significantly increased physical workload is to be assumed. However, there are no specific guidelines on how to proceed in occupational health care in the event of significantly increased musculoskeletal stress or when the exposure limit values for hand-arm vibrations or whole-body vibrations specified in the ArbMedVV are exceeded.

This presentation introduces the new DGUV occupational health recommendation “Stresses on the musculoskeletal system including vibrations”, which provides guidance for a systematic approach to preventive occupational health care in the event of significantly increased exposure to the musculoskeletal system. This was developed by the Occupational Medicine Committee of the German Social Accident Insurance, which consists of experts from the BAuA, federal states, accident insurance representatives/DGUV institutes, professional associations (DGAUM, GfA, VDBW) and from science and practice. The DGUV Recommendation represents a fundamental revision of the previous DGUV Principle G46 “Stresses on the musculoskeletal system including vibrations”. The new DGUV Recommendation initially explains the legal basis, areas of application, obligations and requirements of occupational health consultations and examinations related to significantly increased musculoskeletal stresses. This is followed by specific information on types of physical workload, health effects and clinical pictures that consider the latest scientific findings (e.g. from the MEGAPHYS project and the current occupational disease situation in Germany). The section on preventive occupational health care has been revised (including new anamnesis forms) and an advice section, differentiated according to advice for employees and employers, has been added.