Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 88 per cent of recorded occupational diseases in France (almost 45,000 cases). Every year, there are also 70,000 handling accidents in the workplace that result in lower back pain and at least four days off work. Most of these MSDs are concentrated in a few sectors, namely personal assistance and care, construction, mass retailing, the food industry, the metal industry, cleaning, and transport logistics.
The consequences of these disorders can be serious for both employees and companies.
The Occupational MSD (TMS Pros) process is based on four online stages and enables companies to reduce risk factors and improve how work is organized. It is open to any company wishing to prevent MSDs among its employees in the long term, and also includes financial support from the occupational health and safety department of the Regional Sickness Insurance Funds (Caisses régionales d’assurance maladie) for the companies most affected by MSD claims.
By 2021, 6,500 companies were receiving support and had already introduced an action plan. The line of work has been renewed for 2021, and 7,850 establishments have been identified and are currently receiving support.