Summary

Long-term heavy physical work is common in many workplaces in Sweden and may pose serious health risks. The two literature reviews provide an overview of Swedish and Nordic research in this area. Together, they contribute to our understanding of how the work environment affects health and ability to work, and highlight the need for preventive measures to support longer and more sustainable working lives.

The findings show an association between long-term heavy physical work and an increased risk of long-term sickness absence and disability pension. The association with disability pension is particularly strong for musculoskeletal disorders, such as back, neck and shoulder pain.

The research also suggests a small to moderate increase in the risk of work-related mortality, as well as an association with cardiovascular disease, although the findings are not entirely consistent.

Related literature review

Heavy physical work and work-related cardiovascular diseases and deaths

Authors

• Daniel Falkstedt, Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
• Melody Almroth, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
• Kuan-Yu Pan, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
• Maria Albin, Professor, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet/Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm
• Katarina Kjellberg, Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet/Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm