Survey of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in footwear manufacturing workers : association with work task, individual and psychosocial factors

Abstract

The problem of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in industrial workers has constituted one of the major problems in many countries. However, surveys on this problem have not been taken seriously in Thailand. This study, therefore, surveyed WMSD problems in a footwear manufacturing factory. This type of factory involved a large number of workers who perform jobs with repetitive motions and prolonged static postures which are the major causes of WMSDs. The purposes of this study were to survey the self-reported WMSDs among footwear manufacturing workers. The prevalence of WMSDs was studied along with the association between work task, individual and psychosocial factors. Additionally, the WMSDs based on physical examination findings performed by an experienced physical therapist was determined. A cross-sectional study was conducted in one footwear manufacturing factory. From a total of 741 footwear workers employed in this factory, 733 (98.92%) of them responded to a self-administered questionnaire which was modified from the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire to gather information about work characteristics, individual and psychosocial characteristics, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Respondents with musculoskeletal symptoms presented during the last 7 days were invited for personal interview and physical therapy assessment. The highest 12-month prevalence of WMSDs were found in the shoulders (47.5%), lower back (47.3%), neck (40.3%) and wrist/hand (38.5%) respectively. Work-related factors, individual factors, and psychosocial factors were found to be significantly associated with WMSDs (p<0.05). Most physical findings of WMSDs were muscular disorders (73.13%). Most symptoms of WMSDs occurred during working periods but sick leave was uncommon in this factory. High prevalence of WMSDs in shoulder, lower back, neck and wrist/ hand in footwear manufacturing workers were important problems that should be corrected and prevented.