6. Conclusions

Despite technical progress designed to lighten the burden of the most arduous tasks, physical activity remains one of the main causes of occupational accidents and disease. Employee complaints in various surveys confirm that these physical constraints persist and are increasingly resented.

Physical activity at work, when excessive or perceived as such, increases the duration of work stoppages. It is one of the main reasons for prolonged absence from work following an accident or occupational illness, but also after any absence from work, whatever the cause, even if it is not work-related. Last but not least, physical activity at work is one of the reasons most often cited by employees for taking early retirement. Statistics on work-related accidents and illnesses, and the resulting length of time off work, demonstrate the high cost of the consequences of physical...