Musculoskeletal system

Employees may experience various musculoskeletal symptoms due to their work .Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common causes of absenteeism from work and one of the causes of disability. Employers and employees can jointly try to prevent work conditions from leading to musculoskeletal symptoms and in this regard, it is good to look at environmental factors, equipment and body positioning. 

Factors that reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal symptoms:  

• Good work conditions 

• Diverse tasks 

• Suitable body positioning 

• Regular exercise 

Regular education to employees on the use of assistive devices and suitable body positioning for various tasks can also give good results.  Special consideration must be given to new employees and those who do not speak Icelandic as their first language.  

Factors that can contribute to work-related musculoskeletal pain and are often synergistic: 

• Jobs that involve lifting and carrying, working at high speed and working in uncomfortable positions 

• Repetitive tasks  

• Various environmental factors 

• Individual factors such as sleep, stress, gender and age