Sick-leave and disability pensions among female assembly workers

Sick-leave in 1984–1989 was higher in 269 women with industrial work involving repetitive movements (total 76,540 days), than in 290 referents with varying work tasks (26,421 days). The medians of the individual ratios of the observed number of days of illness versus expected (according to background population) were 1.26 and 0.24 respectively. Sick-leave with diagnoses in the musculoskeletal system dominated in the exposed group, particularly for neck/shoulders (5.3 versus 0.6% of observed time, p<0.001) and arms/hands (2.4 versus 0.5%, p<0.001). Women leaving for new jobs had, during the exposed employment, a higher sick-leave than those who stayed (‘healthy worker selection’), and afterwards lower sick-leave. The risk of disability pensioning 1980–1989 (observed/expected: 2.8 versus 0.7) was also higher among exposed women. Repetitive, industrial work causes extensive suffering and huge costs. Preventive measures are urgently needed.