The recent “Fit for Work Europe” report by The Work Foundation, a London based think tank, has found that muscle and joint pain accounts for almost half of all sick leave, both in the UK and across Europe. It concluded 49 per cent of all sick leave is caused by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
The report says an estimated one million people in the UK alone suffer from MSDs that cause them to take time off work, with 9.5 million working days lost each year. It estimates that this costs the UK economy £7bn each year.
Additionally the report found over 40 million workers throughout Europe suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain costing the European Union economy as much as £219 billion per year.
Stephen Bevan, Managing Director of the Work Foundation, states: "MSDs clearly have a serious, negative impact on the EU workforce, as they were responsible for millions of lost working days”.
Tatiana Quadrello, senior researcher at The Work Foundation, said: 'The Fit for Work study clearly suggests that early intervention is a key factor in allowing people with MSDs to remain in work.”
The Work Foundation's strain injuries report seems to highlight the need for better occupational health and rehabilitation services.
Only two per cent of UK workers have access to comprehensive occupational health services through their employer. A GP referral to a specialist, could take months, by which time the condition could be chronic and could cost a worker their job.
The Work Foundation has now launched a Fit for Work Europe campaign calling for governments and healthcare professionals across Europe to do more to tackle musculoskeletal disorders.
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