One part of this conference was directed towards professionals in various areas: human resources prevention, health, etc. The director of the CSCV, Bárbara Arellano Fernández, who chaired the conference, presented the various programs being implemented on the national and international levels, as well as the methodology used in the above-mentioned center. The principal characteristic of this methodology is that it considers the participation of employers, technicians, and workers in prevention to be indispensable, making prevention a question of “INTEGRAL MANAGEMENT” as are quality and the environment.

The European Agency Risk Observatory have alerted us that rather that solving problems after they have arisen, we need to anticipate changes in the world of work. The observatory is in contact with the various people and entities working on the causes that produce such disorders. The risks of greatest concern to the European Agency include, among others, lack of physical exercise, combined exposure to muscular-skeletal disorders and psychosocial risk factors, ergonomic risks of working standing up, exposure to vibrations and the risks inherent in heavy physical work.

The main risks for health at the workplace are MSD, i.e. back pain, and RSI. Prevention of these has been declared a priority for 2007 by the above-mentioned Agency.

MSD may affect tendons, muscles or joints, and include pinched nerves and vascular syndromes (Yassi, 1977). They present primarily with cervical and arm pain. Other manifestations are numbness in hands and arms, or occasional loss of strength when handling heavy weights or utensils.

It should also be emphasised that RSI affects not only work activities, but also activities in the home as well as leisure and sports activities. The greatest risks are found among hairdressers, butchers, textile workers and, increasingly, those working with data visualization screens.

The Coronel Institute of Amsterdam have also observed these problems and have underscored the high risk involved in the work performed by fire fighters and construction workers. They have formulated a series of criteria called “SALTSA” to evaluate physical and psychosocial risk factors in awkward and extreme postures and repetitive movements. They point out the particular risk to the lower extremities in such workers.

They have also carried out a study in which they observed how an increase in the number of days of sick leave increase the problems and exacerbated the symptoms. It is for this reason particular that they want to make it possible for workers to return to their jobs as son as possible. They point out that MSDs are the most frequent work-related disorders in the Netherlands.

The TNO Work and Employment (Amsterdam) pointed out the difference between large companies and small/medium companies. In large companies there is less awareness of the impact of workers’ health on productivity. A sick leave represents considerable economic loss. Having healthy workers means increased productivity. The TNO Work and Employment (Amsterdam) speak of a corporate culture in which people motivate each other and this can only take place in a healthy environment. A vital and healthy organisation is one that has healthy workers, capacity for innovation and good future prospects.

Dr. Leka of the Institute of Work, Health and Organisations of the University of Nottingham (UK) points out that skills and motivation are important parameters of Corporate Social Responsibility and that the principal problem of small/medium companies are bureaucracy and high costs.

The first part of the conference came to a close with the presentation of the International Platform for the Integration of Health Management in Corporate Social Responsability (IPHIM,)with contributions from the platforms's International Committee and Board of Advisors.

Regarding the practical experience of the CSCV, the staff, specialized in areas such as management of CSR, Muscular Skeletal Disorders, risks associated with Psychosocial Factors and Physical Condition, emphasized the high incidence of RSI in all the interventions they carry out. They pointed out that they are generally due to movements of a certain intensity, and usually in a static position.

The CSCV staff then went on to detail some of the center’s interventions and proposals for the prevention of Ergonomic risks and of those associated with Psychosocial factors, as well as basic training for workers. They emphasized the PRACTICAL nature of these interventions, as well as the importance of the involvement of all levels of company staff. They recommend that each intervention last at least 8 hours for ergonomic risk prevention (Sra. A. Aranguren) and physical condition (Sr. Francesc Robles), and 16 hours for psychosocial interventions (Sra. E. Sanz).

The incidence of RSI in the population of the European community has not been adequately studied, as evaluation systems vary and, except for a few countries, have not been standardized. Thus, through the use of self-reporting symptom questionnaires, Denmark reports RSI in 29% of men and 33% of women. The Netherlands report approximately 30% in both sexes. In the United States, RSI accounts for 56% of professional illnesses (Milhorn, 1996). In economic terms, the cost represents between 1.5% and 2% of the GNP in Sweden, and $20,000 million in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1993).

In view of the tremendous importance of workers’ quality of life and its effect on productivity, various programs have been launched in some companies in several different areas: health care, administration, education, production, etc.

The technical portion of the conferences was brought to a close by Sra. B. Arellano Fernández, who presented the conclusions and stressed the fact that social and labour responsibility concerns us all as far as our health is concerned. The approach is based on the premise that, in order for the prevention of Muscular Skeletal and Psychosocial risks to be effective, it must begin first in schools, continue in the home, and be further developed in the workplace.

Another aspect of the conference was SOCIAL ACTION FOR HEALTH, a session open to the public and dedicated to raising awareness among the general `population and among RSI patients alike. Sra. Ainhoa Aranguren opened this part of the conference and introduced Sr. Arnold Merkies, of the Dutch RSI Association, who reported on the experience of the association since 1995. Their primary aims are as follows:

• To provide information
• To defend the interests of patients
• To offer contact with others suffering from the same disorders
• To stimulate research on prevention and treatment

At present, this organization has 5000 members.

This was followed by some practical rules and basic exercises presented by Sra. A. Aranguren and Sra. B. Arellano, thus closing the conference to the applause and congratulations of all the participants.

CSCV