{"id":8086,"date":"2026-08-27T15:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moovency.com\/?p=8086"},"modified":"2026-08-27T15:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:04:08","slug":"ageing-workforces-in-the-energy-sector-rethinking-msd-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moovency.com\/en\/ageing-workforces-in-the-energy-sector-rethinking-msd-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Ageing workforces in the energy sector: rethinking MSD prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ageing workforces in the energy sector:<\/strong> rethinking MSD prevention<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)<\/a> currently account for more than 88% of occupational diseases<\/strong> in France. They affect virtually every sector, profession, gender and age group.<\/span><\/p>\n

As careers become longer, one question arises: how can we approach occupational health with a long-term perspective?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the energy sector, this question takes on particular importance: safety requirements remain high, while some interventions take place in physically demanding environments.<\/p>\n

The factors that can contribute to MSDs are numerous and may combine with one another: awkward postures, manual handling, difficult access, repetitive movements, exposure to vibration, and more.<\/p>\n

The challenge, however, is not to consider ageing workers as a more vulnerable population, but rather to question whether working conditions can remain sustainable over the course of a career.<\/p>\n

Preventing MSDs is also about enabling professionals to continue working in demanding occupations while preserving their health, experience and ability to contribute to operational safety over the long term.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Preserving and transferring skills<\/strong>: a challenge for the energy sector of tomorrow<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The ageing of the workforce is taking place in a context where several energy sectors are already facing significant recruitment and skills renewal needs.<\/p>\n

The demographic picture is clear. Globally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) observes a marked imbalance: there are 2.4 energy sector workers approaching retirement for every new entrant under the age of 25<\/strong>. This ratio rises to 1.7 to 1 in the nuclear sector and 1.4 to 1 in the grid workforce.<\/p>\n

As a result, the challenge is not only to prevent work-related health issues. It is also to enable experienced professionals to remain in the workforce under good conditions, at a time when their expertise is essential both to operations and to the transfer of knowledge and skills.<\/p>\n

Longer careers therefore invite us to look differently at certain work-related physical demands.<\/p>\n

\u2192 A physical demand may be acceptable when it occurs occasionally in a given situation. When the same demand is repeated over many years, its long-term sustainability becomes a different question.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Physical demands <\/strong>that vary significantly across occupations<\/span><\/h2>\n

Working conditions vary considerably across energy sectors: nuclear, electricity generation and distribution, wind, solar, hydropower, grid operations, maintenance, and more.<\/p>\n

Work environments, equipment, intervention schedules and physical demands differ from one occupation to another. The following is a non-exhaustive list of physically demanding work situations operators may encounter:<\/p>\n