ABSTRACT
Introduction and Aims: Musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] are one of the most important injuries of occupational health. This study was conducted with the objectives of determination of musculoskeletal disorders symptoms and ergonomics assessment of the risk of MSDs in paddy workers of Marvdasht city
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 300 male paddy workers with at least one year of job tenure. Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire [NMQ] and QEC method were used for determination of prevalence and risk assessment of MSDs respectively. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.19 using statistical tests including Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square
Results: The results of this study showed that the feet [77.3 percent], lower back [73.3 percent] and wrist/hand [72 percent] had highest prevalence of symptoms of MSDs among workers. There was a significant association between the prevalence of these disorders and age, weight, height, job tenure and marital status. QEC technique showed that 65 percent of studied workers were in high and very high level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks
Chi- square statistical test revealed that between musculoskeletal symptoms and QEC risk level had no association. But, the results of this section showed that with increasing the QEC risk level, occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms will be increased
Conclusion: The prevalence of MSDs among studied workers is high. According to these results, awkward posture, lifting and carrying of heavy loads and flexion and twisting in lower back are the most common ergonomics problems in studied workers
ABSTRACT
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders [MSDs] are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries that appear in the lower back, neck and upper and lower extremities mainly. This study was conducted to assess the risk of MSDs and determine of its associated factors in workers of a dairy products company
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 male employees [21-41yrs] using census sampling method participated. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire [NMQ] and QEC method for assessment of postures during the work. Data were analyzed using statistical tests including test of proportion, multiple logistic regression, and Fisher's Exact by SPSS software [Version 16.0]
Results: The results of this study showed that the lower back [37%], shoulders [36%], and hand/wrist [33%] had the highest prevalence of symptoms of disorders among workers. The results of multiple logistic regression showed a significant association between the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in different regions of the body and age, job experiences, shift working and BMI. The results of assessment of physical exposure to musculoskeletal risks by QEC technique showed that in 52% of the studied workers, the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in Action Level [AL] 1, 9% in AL2, 30% in AL3, and 9% in AL4. Also, the finding revealed a significant relationship between the prevalence rate of MSDs and the risk level [low and high risk] achieved by QEC method
Conclusions: Prevalence of symptoms of pain in different regions of the body had an association with age, job experience, shift working and BMI. Corrective measures seemed essential in improvement of working condition in the studied workers