Citation

Schierhout GH, Myers JE, Bridger RS. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1993; 12(1-2): 3-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recent research indicates a growing acknowledgement of the cumulative effect of chronic exposure to adverse work and environmental conditions. In industrialised countries across the world, occupational musculoskeletal disordersare cited as a major cause of inefficiency, absenteeism and fatigue. Few epidemiological studies have investigated role of occupational ergonomic factors in the occurrence of these disorders. This study aimed to investigate musculoskeletal pain in relation to postural stressors in defined factory floor occupations. A checklist was developed to score jobs according to postural stress (comprising factors of posture, force and repetition). A random sample of workers (n = 155) were interviewed with regard to pain and various potential confounders and effect modifiers. Exposure-response relationships were examined. After adjusting for height and gender, length of service, force and a summed unnatural posture score yielded associations with pain in the trapezius region. An overall unnatural posture score was significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain at any anatomical site. None of the explanatory variables were associated with back pain. A simple observational instrument has potential for general surveillance of ergonomic exposure hazards in industrial occupations and is particularly appropriate for use in lesser developed countries.