The Anact-Aract network, in partnership with Harmonie Mutuelle, offers two publications to raise awareness of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Evelyne Escriva, project manager at Anact, sheds light on these publications.
What are the figures today in France regarding TMS?
According to insurer statistics, there are two notable trends. The number of MSDs identified for occupational diseases was growing steadily. It is now declining; a plateau seems to have been reached since 2012. The share of MSDs on all occupational diseases remains very high and continues to increase. In 2015, according to the Cnam-TS and MSA sources, it accounts for about 86% of occupational diseases for the general scheme – nearly 40 000 victims of MSD (benefiting from a first regulation) – and more than 90 % for the farming regime , which continues to be among the sectors affected by MSDs.
The challenges of MSD prevention are therefore still relevant. Preventive institutions are continuing their actions and mutual societies are increasingly accompanying companies.
- How do these two publications facilitate the implementation of a prevention approach?
These publications are complementary and addressed to the company’s stakeholders, involved in prevention. First of all, a ” self-diagnosis ” is proposed to initiate the question of the TMS or to make the point in company. Am I concerned and how? Should I commit or strengthen its prevention? How to do it ?
The more detailed ” methodological guide – benchmarks, practical advice ” tackles the precautionary approach.
More precisely, the ” self-diagnosis ” is in the form of 3 checklists to estimate:
- the importance of the signs and consequences of MSDs in the company,
- the risk of MSD in the context,
- the skills and levers mobilized to prevent them.
According to the answers, an initial analysis is given and points the axes of improvement.
As for the ” methodological guide “, it brings the useful knowledge to reinforce its approach of prevention. It allows to :
- clarify the notion of MSD and their causes,
- know how to organize its approach of prevention,
- rely on different analyzes of data, particularly in the workplace,
- build an action plan.
5 tool cards accompany the company as the steps progress.
What can be retained as a fundamental principle to prevent MSDs?
The benchmarks in these publications include the fundamentals of sustainable MSD prevention . First, the risk of MSD is complex because it depends on several risk factors that accumulate MSDs are multifactorial pathologies. The prevention of MSD must therefore be based on a global understanding of the gestures of work, the movements but also their significance, and act on the root causes that are linked to the organization of work.
Second, people may show symptoms more or less rapidly depending on the amount of stress and the duration of exposure. MSDs are delayed-action pathologies. The prevention approach can only be sustained over time, all the more so as business and work are constantly changing. It requires watch and anticipation. The involvement of multiple actors is also a must to take a broader approach to prevention and a constant commitment of the company.