Musculoskeletal symptoms among seafood production workers in North Norway.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among male and female production workers in different types of seafood industries in North Norway and to analyse associations between musculoskeletal symptoms and some possible risk factors in the seafood industry. METHODS: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire, covering several aspects concerning occupational environment and health issues, was mailed to employees in seafood-processing plants in North Norway. RESULTS: A total of 1767 employees in 118 seafood-processing plants participated giving a 50% response rate. This included 744 production workers in whitefish, shrimp and salmon industries, and 129 administrative workers in all types of seafood industries. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was high among seafood production workers. The odds ratio for symptoms from upper limbs was significantly higher for females compared to men. Production workers had the highest relative risk for symptoms from wrist/hands (OR = 4.1-9.4) and elbows (OR = 3.5-5.2) when compared to administrative workers. The main difference between types of seafood industries was the high prevalence of symptoms from wrist/hands among female (82%) and male (64%) production workers in the salmon industry compared to whitefish (62 and 47%, respectively) and shrimp industry (66 and 37%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal symptoms were found among the majority of production workers in the whitefish, shrimp and salmon industry, the highest prevalence being among female workers. The main difference between types of seafood industries was the high prevalence of symptoms from wrist/hands among workers in the salmon industry. Cold work was an important risk factor for musculoskeletal symptoms.

Feeling cold at work increases the risk of symptoms from muscles, skin, and airways in seafood industry workers.

BACKGROUND: Norwegian workers in seafood industry plants are exposed to a cold and often wet environment. METHODS: 1,767 seafood industry workers participated in a questionnaire study. Seventeen plants were visited for thermal measurements. RESULTS: 15.9% of industrial workers and 1.7% of administrative workers reported that they often felt cold at work. Mean finger temperatures after 1 hr work varied between 16 and 22 degrees C. Foot temperature dropped from morning measurement until lunch time in 85% of the measurements. Industrial workers who reported that they often felt cold, had significantly increased prevalence of symptoms from muscles, skin, and airways while working, compared to workers who reported that they never felt cold at work. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate cooling, caused by a cold indoor working environment, may increase muscle-, airway-, and skin symptoms. The prevalence of feeling cold may be a useful exposure estimate in moderate cold exposure situations.