Work-related musculoskeletal disorders at two textile factories in Edirne, Turkey

Objective: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) is a term used to describe a painful or disabling injury to the muscles, tendons or nerves caused or aggravated by work. WMSDs are preventable or at least can be delayed. The aim of this study to determine the work related musculo-skeletal disorders and risk levels of the these factory workers. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at two textile factories in Edirne, Turkey and it involved 381 workers. The questionnaire used for data collection consisted of two parts. The first part described some socio-demographic features, working conditions and health problems of workers in the previous four weeks. In the second part, a Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Employer Assessment worksheet was used. Results: In the assessment of the upper limbs of the workers, the arm/wrist score (AWS) is 5.9±1.7 (3-11); neck, trunk, legs score (NTLS) is 5.3±2.5 (3-11); and total score (TS) is 5.5±1.3 (3-7). The ages of the workers are significantly associated with higher RULA scores (r=0.207, p=0.000). AWS, NTLS and TS of the women workers were found to be statistically significantly lower than for the men. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders are a common problem among textile workers. Employers can prevent WMSD hazards by properly designing the jobs or workstations and selecting the appropriate tools or equipment.

PDF

___

1. Bernard B (ed.), Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors;A Critical Review of Epidemiologic Evidence for Work- Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Neck, Upper Extrem- ity, and Low Back (NİOSH, 1997), Available from:www.cdc.gov/ niosh/ergosci1.html
2. Detels R, McEwen J, Beaglehole R, Tanaka H (editors), Oxford Textbook of Public Health. Kelsey JL, Sowers M, Musculoskel- etal Diseases, 4 th Edition, New York :Oxford University Press, 2002;349-68.
3. Wallace RB (editor), Maxcy-Rosenau-Last, Public Health & Pre- ventive Medicine. Keyserling WM, Armstrong TJ, Ergonomics and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, 14 th Edition, Ap- pleton &Lange;Stamford, USA, 1998:645-59.
4. Hagberg M, Silverstein B, Wells R, Smith MJ, Hendrick HW, Ca- rayon P, Perusse M, 1995. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disor- ders (WMSDS):a Reference Book for Prevention, in:Detels R, McEwen J, Beaglehole R, Tanaka H (Eds.), Oxford Textbook of Public Health, 4 th Edition, Oxford University Press, New York.
5. Punnett L, Ergonomics and Public Healh, 4 th Edition, New York:Oxford University Press, 2002. p.1067-82.
6. Cakmak ZA, Tekbas FO, Guler C. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Preventation of Additional İnjuries, Guler C (ed.), Sağlık Boyutuyla Ergonomi, Ankara :Palme Press, 2004;227-54.
7. United States Department of Labor. Workplace injuries and ill- nesses in 1999. Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDL 00-357, 2000.
8. Palmer K, Cooper C. Repeated movements and repeated trau- ma affecting the musculoskeletal system. In:Adams PH, Aw T-C, Cockcroft A, et al, eds. Hunters diseases of occupations, 9th edn. London, 2000.
9. http://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/msds/index_html/facts_html (Available from, 2009 March 25).
10. http://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/annual_report/issue_an- nual_report_2007/view, (Available from, 2008 October 21).
11. Jansen JP, Burdorf A. Effects of measurement strategy and statistical analysis on dose-response relations between physical workload and low back pain. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:942-7. [CrossRef]
12. http://osha.europa.eu/legislation (Avaliable from, 2009 May 15).
13. International Labour Office Geneva. Labour practices in the footwear, leather, textiles, and clothing industries, 10-16- 2000. Geneva:International Labour Organization (ILO), TML- FI/2000.8-1,2004.
14. Wang PC, Rempel DM, Harrison RJ, Chan J, Ritz BR. Work-organ- isational and personal factors associated with upper body mus- culoskeletal disorders among sewing machine Operators. Occup Environ Med 2007;64:806-13. [CrossRef]
15. World Trade Organization;International Trade Statistics 2010, Avaliable from URL:www.wto.org
16. Turkey Statistical Institute Records, 2009 May 15, Available from URL:http://www.tuik.gov.tr/VeriBilgi.do
17. McAtamney L, Corlett EN., Reducing The Risks of Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders A Guide and Methods, Institue for Occu- pational Ergonomics, University of Nottingham, 2nd Reprinted, Unıted Kingdom, 1996.
18. McAtamney L, Corlett EN. RULA:A survey Method for İnvestigation of Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders. Appl Ergon 1993;24:91-9. [CrossRef]
19. Punnett L. Adjusting for the healthy worker selection effect in cross- sectional studies. Int J Epidemiol 1996;25:1076-86. [CrossRef]
20. Sokas RK, Spiegelman D, Wegman DH. Self-reported muscu- loskeletal complaints among garment workers. Am J Ind Med 1989;15:197-206. [CrossRef]
21. Ulu N, Cakmak ZA. The relation of lumbago and working pos- ture aspect of ergonomic in working life. Turkiye Klinikleri J Neur 2009;4:7-18.
22. Hagberg M, Wegman D. Prevalence rates and odds ratios of shoulder-neck diseases in different occupational groups. Br J Ind Med, 1987;44:602-10.
23. Picavet HSJ, van Gils HWV, Schouten JSGA., Klachten van het bewegingsapparaat in de Nederlandse bevolking:prevalenties, consequenties en risicogroepen [Musculoskeletal complain- tsin the Dutch population:prevalences, consequences and risk groups]. Bilthoven (The Netherlands):Rijksinstituut voor volksge- zondheid en milieu (RIVM), 2000.
24. Linton SJ, Hellsing AL, Halldén K. A population-based study of spinal pain among 35-45-year-old individuals:prevalence, sick leave, and health care use. Spine 1998;23:1457-63. [CrossRef]
25. Jansen JP, Morgenstern H, Burdorf A. Dose-response relations between occupational exposures to physical and psychoso- cial factors and the risk of low back pain. Occup Environ Med 2004;61:972-9. [CrossRef]
26. Lemasters GK, Atterbury MR, Booth-Jones AD, Bhattacharya A, Ollila-Glenn N, Forrester C, et al. Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders in active union carpenters. Occup En- viron Med 1998;55:421-7. [CrossRef]
27. Punnett L. Ergonomic stressors and upper extremity disorders in vehicle manufacturing:cross sectional exposure response trends. Occup Environ Med 1998;55:414-20. [CrossRef]
28. Buckle P. Upper limb disorders and work:the importance of physical and psychosocial factors. J Psychosom Res 1997;43:17-25. [CrossRef]
29. Toomingras A, Theorell T, Michelsen H, Nordemar R. Associations between self-rated psychosocial work conditions and musculo- skeletal symptoms and signs. Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group. Scand J Work Environ Health 1997;23:130-9. [CrossRef]
30. Theorell T, Harms-Ringdahl K, Ahlberg-Hultén G, Westin B. Psycho- social job factors and symptoms from the locomotor system--a mul- ticausal analysis. Scand J Rehabil Med 1991;23:165-73.
31. Bongers PM, de Winter CR, Kompier MA, Hildebrandt VH. Psy- chosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health 1993;19:297-312. [CrossRef]
32. Cherry NM, Meyer JD, Chen Y, Holt DL, McDonald JC. The re- ported incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disease in the UK:MOSS 1997-2000. Occup Med 2001;51:450-5. [CrossRef]
33. Gamperiene M, Stigum H. Work related risk factors for musculo- skeletal complaints in the spinning industry in Lithuania. Occup Environ Med 1999;56:411-6. [CrossRef]
34. Kort WL, Fransman LG, Dijk FJ. Preemployment medical examinations in a large occupational health service. Scand J Work Environ Health 1991;17:392-7. [CrossRef]