High physical work demands and working life expectancy in Denmark

ObjectiveIn most European countries, political reforms gradually increase the statutory retirement age to counter the economic costs of a growing elderly population. However, working to a high age may be difficult for people with hard physical labour. We aim to study the impact of high physical work demands on working life expectancy (WLE).MethodsWe combined physical work demands assessed by job exposure matrix (JEM) and longitudinal high-quality national registers (outcome) in 1.6 million Danish workers to estimate WLE and years of sickness absence, unemployment and disability pension. The JEM value for physical work demand is a summarised score of eight ergonomic exposures for 317 occupations groups, sex and age. The WLE was estimated using a multistate proportional hazards model in a 4-year follow-up period.ResultsIndividuals with high physical work demands had a significantly lower WLE, than those with low physical work demands, with largest differences seen among women. At age 30 years, women with high physical work demands can expect 3.1 years less working, 11 months more of sickness absence and 16 months more of unemployment than low-exposed women. For 30-year-old men, the corresponding results were 2.0 years, 12 months and 8 months, respectively.ConclusionOur findings show that high physical work demands are a marked risk factor for a shortened working life and increased years of sickness absence and unemployment. The results are important when selecting high-risk occupations, and expand the knowledge base for informed political decision making concerning statutory retirement age.

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Indicators and determinants of the years of working life lost: a narrative review

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494821993669 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 140349482199366

Author(s):

Rahman Shiri ◽

Aapo Hiilamo ◽

Tea Lallukka

Keyword(s):

Life Expectancy ◽

Working Life ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Policy Changes ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Work Related ◽

Healthy Working ◽

Overweight Or Obesity

Objective: This narrative review summarizes the available indicators for working life expectancy and years of working life lost (YWLL) and their determinants. Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase databases from their inception until August 2020 and screened all studies proposing an indicator for working life expectancy or YWLL. We also reviewed studies focusing on sociodemographic, lifestyle and work-related determinants of working life expectancy and YWLL. The results were synthesized narratively. Results: We identified 13 different indicators for the length of working life or YWLL. The most frequently used indicators were ‘working life expectancy’, ‘healthy working life expectancy’, and YWLL. Working life expectancy and healthy working life expectancy are longer for men than women. Working life expectancy at the age of 50 has been increasing since the mid-90s, and the increase has been larger for women, reducing the sex difference. Working life is shorter for people with a low level of education, in lower occupational classes, for people exposed to high physical work demands, those living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas, people with overweight or obesity, smokers, people who are inactive during leisure time and in people with a chronic health problem. Conclusions: Despite increasing interest in understanding the determinants of YWLL, only a few studies have simultaneously considered multiple exit routes from the labour market. We propose a new measure for total YWLL considering all relevant exit routes from employment. This comprehensive measure can be used to assess the effect of given policy changes on prolonging working life.

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Long-term sickness absence from combined factors related to physical work demands: prospective cohort study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/cky073 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 824-829 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Lars L Andersen ◽

Sannie V Thorsen ◽

Mari-Ann Flyvholm ◽

Andreas Holtermann

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Physical Work Demands

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Important work demands for reducing sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain: a prospective cohort study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-019-2909-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stefan Oliv ◽

Ewa Gustafsson ◽

Adnan Noor Baloch ◽

Mats Hagberg ◽

Helena Sandén

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Work Ability ◽

Older Workers ◽

Age Groups ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Work Demand ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Work Ability Score

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate what exposure to work demands, physical and psychosocial, is associated with lower levels of sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain in different groups, by age, gender, duration of sickness absence and work ability score. Methods This study was a prospective study of 4567 workers with neck or upper back pain. Data on neck or upper back pain, work demand and work ability were obtained from the Swedish Work Environment survey over a 3–year period (2009–2013). Register data on sickness absence, 1 year after each survey was conducted, were obtained from the Swedish health insurance database. Analyses were performed to estimate the association between self-reported work demands and registered sick days > 14 days. The analyses were stratified for gender, age group and work ability score. Results Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting low exposure to lifting ≥15 kg and twisted or forward-leaning work postures. Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting high work control and seated work. The associations were generally stronger in the older age groups for the physical work demands. Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that certain physical work demands and having high control over one’s work can result in lower sickness absence, especially among middle-aged and older workers with neck or upper back pain.

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Physical Work Demands of Childcare Workers in Denmark: Device-Based Measurements and Workplace Observations Among 199 Childcare Workers from 16 Day Nurseries

Annals of Work Exposures and Health ◽

10.1093/annweh/wxaa041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (6) ◽

pp. 586-595 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andreas Holtermann ◽

Peter Fjeldstad Hendriksen ◽

Kathrine Greby Schmidt ◽

Malene Jagd Svendsen ◽

Charlotte Diana Nørregaard Rasmussen

Keyword(s):

Sickness Absence ◽

Working Hours ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Electronic Survey ◽

Trunk Inclination ◽

Activity Types ◽

Childcare Workers ◽

Working Day

Abstract Objectives Childcare workers in Denmark have high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and sickness absence, but the existing knowledge of their physical work demands is limited, hampering preventive initiatives. This study aimed to assess the physical work demands with accelerometers and workplace observations of childcare workers handling children age 0–3. Methods Data collection consisted of an electronic survey, anthropometric measurements, accelerometer measurements providing information of physical activity types and postures with Acti4 software from five consecutive workdays, as well as 4-h visual workplace observation per childcare worker from 16 Danish nurseries. Results In total, 199 childcare workers were enrolled in the study. A total of 4181 working hours of accelerometer measurements and 722 h of workplace observations were carried out. Accelerometer measurements showed that they spent about half of the working day (44.8%) in sedentary postures, and the rest standing (22.8%), moving (13.0%), walking (14.6%), running (0.1%), and climbing stairs (0.7%), with 4.1% in knee straining postures (kneeling and squatting) and 4.3% forward trunk inclination >60°. Workplace observations showed that they carried children 1.8% of the working hours. Conclusions Physical work demands of Danish childcare workers are characterized by about half of the workday being sedentary, and the remaining of the workday being quite evenly distributed between standing and dynamic activities, with low exposures to carrying children. Their exposure to forward bending of the trunk and knee straining postures could impose a risk for MSP and sickness absence, and preventive initiatives should be considered.

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Work participation and working life expectancy after a disabling shoulder lesion

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2018-105647 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 363-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maria Sirén ◽

Eira Viikari-Juntura ◽

Jari Arokoski ◽

Svetlana Solovieva

Keyword(s):

Life Expectancy ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽

Working Life ◽

Work Participation ◽

Disability Retirement ◽

Musculoskeletal Problems ◽

Wage Earners ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of a disabling non-traumatic shoulder lesion on work participation and working life expectancy.MethodsFrom a 70% random sample of the Finnish population, we selected 30–59-year-old wage earners with prolonged sickness absence due to a shoulder lesion (n=7644). We followed the persons from 2006 to 2014 and calculated the proportion of time a person spent in different work participation statuses. The associations of potential determinants with a preterm exit from paid employment were tested using Cox regression. Years expected to be spent in different work participation statuses were estimated applying the Sullivan method for healthy life expectancy.ResultsDuring 9 years of follow-up time spent at work was reduced from 77.7% to 46.7%, and 15.8% of the persons were granted disability retirement, mostly due to shoulder and other musculoskeletal diseases. Compared with the general population persons with a disabling shoulder disease are expected to lose from 1.8 to 8.1 years of working life, depending on their age. Age, gender, education, duration of initial sickness absence due to the shoulder lesion, not being able to return to work sustainably and participation in vocational rehabilitation predicted preterm exit from work. Heavy lifting increased the risk of preterm exit marginally.ConclusionsWorking life expectancy is markedly reduced in persons with a disabling shoulder lesion, mainly because of disability retirement due to musculoskeletal problems. Clinicians should consider interventions targeted at improving musculoskeletal functioning and necessary work modifications before shoulder problems become chronic or the persons develop disabling comorbid musculoskeletal conditions.

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High physical work demands have worse consequences for older workers: prospective study of long-term sickness absence among 69 117 employees

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-107281 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-107281

Author(s):

Lars Louis Andersen ◽

Jacob Pedersen ◽

Emil Sundstrup ◽

Sannie Vester Thorsen ◽

Reiner Rugulies

Keyword(s):

Sickness Absence ◽

Older Workers ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Age Groups ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Environment And Health ◽

Prospective Association

ObjectiveThis study investigates the role of age for the prospective association between physical work demands and long-term sickness absence (LTSA).MethodsWe followed 69 117 employees of the general working population (Work Environment and Health in Denmark study 2012–2018), without LTSA during the past 52 weeks preceding initial interview, for up to 2 years in the Danish Register for Evaluation of Marginalisation. Self-reported physical work demands were based on a combined ergonomic index including seven different types of exposure during the working day. Using weighted Cox regression analyses controlling for years of age, gender, survey year, education, lifestyle, depressive symptoms and psychosocial work factors, we determined the interaction of age with physical work demands for the risk of LTSA.ResultsDuring follow-up, 8.4% of the participants developed LTSA. Age and physical work demands interacted (p<0.01). In the fully adjusted model, very high physical work demands were associated with LTSA with HRs of 1.18 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.50), 1.57 (95% CI 1.41 to 1.75) and 2.09 (95% CI 1.81 to 2.41) for 20, 40 and 60 years old (point estimates), respectively. Results remained robust in subgroup analyses including only skilled and unskilled workers and stratified for gender.ConclusionThe health consequences of high physical work demands increase with age. Workplaces should consider adapting physical work demands to the capacity of workers in different age groups.

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Expected Labor Market Affiliation: A New Method Illustrated by Estimating the Impact of Perceived Stress on Time in Work, Sickness Absence and Unemployment of 37,605 Danish Employees

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094980 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4980

Author(s):

Jacob Pedersen ◽

Svetlana Solovieva ◽

Sannie Vester Thorsen ◽

Malene Friis Andersen ◽

Ute Bültmann

Keyword(s):

Labor Market ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Work Related ◽

Related Stress ◽

The Impact

As detailed data on labor market affiliation become more accessible, new approaches are needed to address the complex patterns of labor market affiliation. We introduce the expected labor market affiliation (ELMA) method by estimating the time-restricted impact of perceived stress on labor market affiliation in a large sample of Danish employees. Data from two national surveys were linked with a national register. A multi-state proportional hazards model was used to calculate ELMA estimates, i.e., the number of days in work, sickness absence, and unemployment during a 4-year follow-up period, stratified by gender and age. Among employees reporting frequent work-related stress, the expected number of working days decreased with age, ranging from 103 days lost among older women to 37 days lost among younger and middle-aged men. Young and middle-aged women reporting frequent work- and personal life-related stress lost 62 and 81 working days, respectively, and had more days of sickness absence (34 days and 42 days). In conclusion, we showed that perceived stress affects the labor market affiliation. The ELMA estimates provide a detailed understanding of the impact of perceived stress on labor market affiliation over time, and may inform policy and practice towards a more healthy and sustainable working life.

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0112 Work environment and health in denmark – risk factors related to physical work demands for long-term sickness absence

10.1136/oemed-2017-104636.86 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Lars L Andersen

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Work Environment ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Environment And Health

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Occupational Exposures Associated with Life Expectancy without and with Disability

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176377 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6377

Author(s):

Astrid de Wind ◽

Ranu Sewdas ◽

Emiel O. Hoogendijk ◽

Allard J. van der Beek ◽

Dorly J. H. Deeg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Expectancy ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Survival Models ◽

Physical Work ◽

Work Demands ◽

Psychosocial Work ◽

Physical Work Demands ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Low Exposure ◽

Psychosocial Work Demands

Policies to extend working lives often do not take into account potentially important health inequalities arising from differences in occupational exposures. Little is known about which occupational exposures are associated with these inequalities. This study aims to examine differences in life expectancy without and with disability by occupational exposures. Longitudinal data (1992–2016) on disability and physical and psychosocial work demands and resources of 2513 (former) workers aged ≥55 years participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used. Gender specific life expectancies without and with disability by occupational exposures were calculated using multistate survival models. Women aged 55 years with high physical work demands had a lower life expectancy without disability than those with low exposure (1.02–1.57 years), whereas there was no difference for men. Men and women with high psychosocial work demands and resources had a longer life expectancy without disability than those with low exposure (1.19–2.14 years). Life expectancy with disability did not significantly differ across occupational exposures. Workers with higher psychosocial demands and resources and lower physical demands can expect to live more disability-free years. Information on occupational exposure helps to identify workers at risk for lower life expectancy, especially without disability, who may need specific support regarding their work environment.

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