How MOTEN helped reduce musculoskeletal disorders at Mécachrome

Understanding musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

What are MSDs?

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) encompass a range of conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, joints, and nerves. They are primarily caused by repetitive motions, awkward postures, and intense physical exertion. These conditions mainly affect the upper limbs (shoulders, wrists, elbows, hands, fingers) as well as the back and neck.

The consequences of MSDs

The consequences of MSDs are numerous, impacting both worker health and company performance. On an individual level, these disorders lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, and, in some cases, prolonged work disability. Affected employees may also suffer from a diminished quality of life, both physically and psychologically.

For companies, MSDs represent a significant economic and organizational challenge. They lead to increased absenteeism, replacement costs, and lower productivity. In France, they are the leading cause of compensated occupational diseases, accounting for nearly 88% of reported cases. Each year, more than 42,000 new cases are recognized, generating substantial costs for both businesses and the healthcare system. Prevention and workstation adaptation are therefore essential to limit these risks.

Why Mécachrome is taking action

Mécachrome is a leader in the manufacturing of complex components for the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors. The Sablé-sur-Sarthe site, located in the Pays de la Loire region, is a strategic production hub for the organization, where innovation and quality are top priorities. To maintain its high standards of performance and safety, Mécachrome focuses on proactive health and safety management at work. Preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is therefore a priority for the site, particularly due to the physical exertion and repetitive postures required by certain activities.

Optimizing working conditions to reduce MSDs

In January 2024, Mécachrome enlisted MOTEN to analyze the situation at its Sablé-sur-Sarthe site. The goal was to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and the pain linked to repetitive movements and lifting loads. The upper limbs, particularly the shoulders, as well as the back, were especially affected by these conditions. These prevention initiatives are part of a comprehensive approach to improving working conditions and reducing risk factors.

Less than a year after this initial intervention, Mécachrome reached out to us again to evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions implemented and to analyze a new workstation. This analysis helped identify new areas for improvement in terms of ergonomics and work organization.

A personalized approach and effective solutions

During this second intervention, we conducted an in-depth analysis of two workstations. This confirmed that the adjustments made in January 2024 had reduced the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and the physical strain on operators.

The MOTEN team took several risk factors into account: awkward postures, vibrations, and intense muscle strain on the arms and shoulders. The analysis also focused on the joints, in order to prevent the onset of conditions linked to the overuse of muscles and tendons.

As noted by Roger Carpentey, HSE Manager:

"During this intervention, there was a very productive exchange between Mécachrome staff and the MOTEN ergonomist. The staff were highly engaged in the process and clearly communicated the issues they encountered at their workstations."

Concrete, sustainable, and measurable results

The impact of these two interventions has been overwhelmingly positive:

• Health and safety: The solutions implemented have significantly reduced the risk of MSDs. The reduction in situations involving risk and exposure time has helped limit the likelihood of developing muscle or tendon conditions linked to prolonged exposure to repetitive strain.
• Organization: Alongside ergonomic solutions, organizational adjustments were highlighted. These will allow for better task management and process optimization.
• Profitability: One of the key lessons from this project is that improving working conditions does not necessarily require heavy investment. A few simple, well-thought-out solutions allowed Mécachrome to balance safety, efficiency, and performance without negatively impacting its budget.

In short, this collaboration demonstrated that the prevention of MSDs is essential to ensuring worker health. Taking into account risk factors, postures, situations, and physical exertion helps limit the onset of occupational diseases and protects worker health. An effective preventive approach relies on adapting work situations, optimizing the environment and reducing sources of strain.

Are you a health and safety manager, ergonomist, or prevention officer? Looking to improve working conditions in your company while keeping costs under control? Contact us to discuss the tailored support we can offer you.