Effects of mental workload on work-related musculoskeletal disorders in railway vehicle manufacturing workers / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of mental workload and prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders musculoskeletal disorders( WMSDs) in railway vehicle manufacturing workers.METHODS: A total of 362 male workers in assembling and welding workshop from a railway vehicle manufacturing enterprise were selected as study subjects by cluster sampling method.The level of mental workload and prevalence of WMSDs were investigated using a revised Subjective Workload Assessment Technique and China Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.RESULTS: The median score of mental workload was 67 and the prevalence rate of WMSDs was 56.9%.The multivariate logistic regression analysis results indicated that the higher the mental workload of railway vehicle manufacturers,the higher their risk for WMSDs after excluding the influence of confounding factors( P < 0.05).Workers in welding work showed a higher risk than those in assembling work( P < 0.01).Workers with fast work rhythm showed higher risk of WMSDs than those with regular working rhythm( P < 0.01).Workers with comfortable working environment and temperature showed lower risk of WMSDs than those with uncomfortable working environment and temperature( P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: The mental workload can increase the risk of WMSDs,with a dose-effect relationship in railway vehicle manufacturing workers.The type of work,work frequency and the temperature in working environment are also influencing factors of WMSDs.