Assessing the impact of critical risk factors on the development of musculoskeletal disorders: a structural equation modelling approach

Abstract

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) have a significant impact on people’s lives as well as their workplaces, organizations, families, society, and national economy. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of different risk factors in developing MSD problems. Structural equation modelling has been used to examine the effects of different risk factors on developing MSD problems. Five hypotheses were developed for workplace, personal, biomechanical, psychosocial, and organisational risk factors to examine the positive relation with MSD problems generation. Results showed that biomechanical risk factors, including repetitive motion, vibration, force, posture, and deviation from neutral body alignment, have significant impacts on the development of MSD problems. Similar results were found for workplace, personal, psychosocial, and organisational risk factors. Therefore, either the single risk factor or collectively contributes significantly to MSD problems generation. Decision-makers can use this study to analyse the impacts of different factors on the generation of MSD problems within their industries or organizations. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first and foremost approach to determine the impacts of the critical risk factors on developing MSD problems through an organised and scientific approach.