Musculoskeletal disorders assessment using sick-leaves registers in a manufacturing plant in Spain

- There is a higher incidence of MSDs among workers older than 50 years old.
- Press and veneer working areas are more risky as for neck pathologies.
- Ages over 50 are more risky as for lower back MSDs.
- To work in assembly induction area is more risky as for lower back MSDs.

The incidence rates of sick-leave caused by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were registered in 2013 in a Spanish manufacturing plant of electrical appliances applying a detailed analysis to the sick-leave data using Poisson regression considering the gender, age and working area.The adjusted incidence rates estimated using Poisson regression show a higher incidence for workers over age 50, and a higher incidence of neck-related MSDs sick-leave for working area of presses and veneers. As for back injuries, workers over age 50 and of assembly induction working area present the highest risk of sick-leave.Relevance for the industryThe results obtained in this study could be a reference to manufacturing plants of electrical appliances or similar to design MSDs' prevention policies, with the aim of reducing sick leaves and its associated costs. This information allows us to detect the working areas with higher incidence, more susceptible subjects as well as more sensitive areas of the body in order to target interventions towards those.