INVESTIGATIONS OF RISK FACTORS FOR WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL PROBLEMS IN ASSEMBLY LINE WORKERS IN AN AUTO OIL PUMP FACTORY

G. Şahiner Pıçak¹, Ş. Tükel Akay², E. Sakalar³

¹Izmır University of Economics, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir, Turkey, ²Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey, ³Stackpole International, Ontario, Canada

Background: The workload assigned to operators working on the assembly line requires repetitive upper extremity movements, attention, and fine visual-motor skills. According to the Human Resources Department of the factory where this study was conducted, musculoskeletal complaints ranked second as the reason for sick leave. Therefore, it is important to identify the work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to classify the reported musculoskeletal problems, and identify the perceived task load and working postural habits of assembly line workers in this factory. In addition, the predictive factors leading to functional loss caused by work-related musculoskeletal problems (WMSD) were investigated.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 136 participants aged between 18 to 47 years (M ±SD: 30.62 ± 5.7) which consists of 87 women and 49 men. All participants filled in the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration–Raw Task Load Index (NASA-RTLX) surveys. Demographic information, height, body mass index (BMI), and years of service were recorded for all participants. The static and dynamic working postures of the operators were recorded at the most difficult assembly station with a camera and evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method. Then, participants were divided into two groups based on their answers to the NMQ. Those who had difficulty performing their daily tasks due to pain complaints in the last 12 months were assigned to Group-I (n=90), while those who did not experience any problems were assigned to Group II (n=48). All variables were then compared between these two groups. Frequency tables were conducted for troubled body regions of NMQ. Demographic information was compared between groups using t-test and chi-square. One-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess the effect of group (Group-I and Group-II) on REBA, NASA-RTLX, and the years of service.

Results: According to NMQ, the most frequent to least frequent musculoskeletal problems were; neck (38%), upper and lower back (37%), wrists/hands (35%), shoulders (30%), ankles/feet (17%), hips, thighs, buttocks, and knees (10%) troubles. The groups did not differ in terms of age, height, and BMI. The number of women with longer years of service was higher in Group-I (p<0.05). The effect of the group was significant on REBA score, NASA-RTLX, and years of service (V=.34, F(1,136)=22.65, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The most frequent musculoskeletal disorders were observed in the spine and upper extremities of assembly line workers. Working postures and perceived mental workload as well as years of service were found as important factors affecting functional loss resulting from musculoskeletal troubles.

Implications: The findings of this study suggest that musculoskeletal problems were common among assembly line workers in this factory. It should keep in mind that individual factors play an essential role in work-related musculoskeletal problems. Physical therapy of such patients should consider not only physical but also perceived mental issues related to the work environment.

Funding acknowledgements: The authors received no funding for this research.

Keywords:
Musculoskeletal
Ocupational health
Ergonomics

Topics:
Musculoskeletal
Occupational health & ergonomics
Musculoskeletal: spine

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Izmir University of Economis

Committee: Science and Engineering Research Ethics Committee

Ethics number: B.30.2.IEUFMB.0.05.05-020-010