Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain one of the most significant occupational health challenges facing the nursing workforce in Europe, driven by the sustained physical demands of patient handling. Despite their prevalence, the European-level evidence base linking patient-handling practices to MSD outcomes among nursing staff remains limited.
The European Biosafety Network (EBN), with support from nursing associations and trade union organisations across Europe, has launched a pan-European survey examining the relationship between patient-handling practices and musculoskeletal health among nurses and auxiliary nurses across EU member states.
The survey captures nurses’ experiences of physically demanding patient-handling tasks, the prevalence and distribution of work-related MSD symptoms, access to assistive equipment, and staffing conditions that shape physical risk at ward level.
It is open to registered nurses, auxiliary nurses and nursing assistants working in any EU member state, and all responses are anonymous and handled in full compliance with EU GDPR (2016/679).
Findings will be used to develop a European Position Paper on musculoskeletal health in nursing, to be presented to EU-OSHA and the European Parliament, with the aim of strengthening occupational health guidance and policy at EU level.
To find out more, email the Secretary of the European Biosafety Network Josh Cobb at josh.cobb@europeanbiosafetynetwork.eu, or follow EBN on LinkedIn.
