EuroJEM - Physical workload
The job-exposure matrix (JEM) for physical workload has been developed by harmonising exposure information from four national JEMs from Finland, Norway, Sweden and France; all based on self-reported exposure information.
It contains five exposures regarding mechanical load on muscles and joints and load on the cardiorespiratory system:
1. heavy lifting (daily lifting >20 kg several times per day)
2. faster breathing due to heavy workload (at least ¼ of the time)
3. kneeling/squatting (at least ¼ of the time)
4. forward bent posture (at least ¼ of the time)
5. working with hands above shoulder level (at least ¼ of the time)
Gender-specific exposure data is provided for 374 occupations classified in ISCO-88 (COM) codes and expressed in five categories of proportion of exposed workers within each occupation. Data has been collected between 1997 and 2013.
The predictive validity of the EuroJEM has been assessed by examination of associations between the harmonized exposure measures and self-reported musculoskeletal pain across the four national cohorts. Comparable and statistically significant associations were found between EuroJEM exposures and low back, shoulder, and knee pain across most cohorts and genders. A good predictive validity was observed in each national cohort.
Katarina Kjellberg
Affiliated to Research
Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum
Senior Researcher, STAMI
Svetlana Solovieva
Adjunct Professor, FIOH
Alexis Descatha
Professor, InsermPublications
Solovieva S, Descatha A, Mehlum IS, Viikari-Juntura E, Undem K, Berglund K, Gilbert F, Wuytack F, d'Errico A, Badarin K, Evanoff B, Kjellberg K. Development of a gender-specific European job exposure matrix (EuroJEM) for physical workload and its validation against musculoskeletal pain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2025 Mar 1;51(2):119-129. https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4203