Analysis of risk factors of multi-site work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the industry of electronic equipment manufacturing / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of multi-site work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) among workers in the industry of electronic equipment manufacturing. METHODS: A total of 815 workers in three factories of electronic equipment manufacturing in Guangdong Province were selected as study subjects by convenience sampling. The prevalence of multi-site WMSDs in the past year was investigated using Musculoskeletal Disorders Investigating Questionnaire and the influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The total prevalence of WMSDs was 69.4%(566/815). The prevalence of multi-site WMSDs was 54.5%(444/815), and the prevalence of one-site WMSDs was 15.0%(122/815). Multiple logistic regression showed that female workers had higher prevalence of multi-site WMSDs than males [odds radio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.59(1.12-2.26), P<0.05]. The prevalence of multi-site WMSDs in left-handed workers was lower than that of right-handed workers [OR(95% CI): 0.42(0.19-0.91), P<0.05]. The longer service of current position and the more neck forward movement, the higher prevalence of multi-site WMSDs [OR(95% CI) were 1.33(1.09-1.63) and 1.62(1.23-2.15), P<0.01]. The workers who had long-time sitting at work, adopted uncomfortable working posture, could decide when to work on their own, kept head down for a long time, or often bending wrists up/down had higher prevalence of multi-site WMSDs [OR(95% CI) were 1.41(1.16-1.73), 1.82(1.40-2.38), 1.79(1.16-2.75), 1.92(1.38-2.69) and 1.60(1.14-2.24), respectively, P<0.01]. The workers who could take turns with colleagues to finish work or had enough rest time had lower prevalence of multi-site WMSDs [OR(95% CI): 0.57(0.41-0.78) and 0.67(0.48-0.92), P<0.05]. The workers who worked >10 h per day had lower prevalence of multi-site WMSDs than those who worked ≤8 h per day [OR(95% CI): 0.57(0.37-0.87), P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: Multi-site WMSDs were more common than one-site WMSDs among workers in the industry of electronic equipment manufacturing, and the prevalence of multi-site WMSDs was high. The risk factors include personal factors, work organization and adverse ergonomic factors.