Evaluation of risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders of upper limbs extremity among press workers

ABSTRACT

Exposure assessment of individual press workers to risk factors associated with work-related upper extremity muscoluskeletal disorders [UEMSDs]. This was a workplace field based, descriptive and analytical study. The study was conducted in presswork shops of an automobile manufacturing industry in Tehran, Iran during 2004-2005. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire [NMQ] and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment [RULA] ergonomics posture based method were applied among 50 workers who work in bending, impact and hydraulic press shops. Then RULA and NMQ results were analysed and compared against each other through SPSS statistical package. The results of this study showed that among all 50 press workers high and low prevalence of pain existed in low back [60%], shoulder and back [16%-18%], respectively. Whilst in other part of body such as thighs and legs, wrist and neck it varies from 22%-44%. In addition, RULA and NMQ results were comparable for bending press workers only and it revealed that 75% of workers have score three for arm, forearm and wrist and 63% of workers have score two for neck, trunk and foot. Also, significant differences were observed between RULA body part scores [1 or >1] and the reported pain in neck and trunk [1df p=0.011 and p=0.026, respectively]. Press workers are involved in musculoskeletal disorders in performing their job and RULA method can be considered a useful method for evaluation of WRMSDs in presswork shops of automobile manufacturing industry