Musculoskeletal disorders in informal mining workers

Abstract

Introduction: Among the segments and modalities of work, the mining activity is considered problematic with regards to the possibilities of disturbances and occupational diseases that can be of physical, biological and social order. Objective: determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in informal mining workers of the Serido region in the state of Paraiba. Methods: 371 informal workers from the Serido region participated in the study. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for the evaluation of the musculoskeletal symptoms. Results: musculoskeletal symptomatology was reported by the majority of employees in one or more body segments (60.6%, n = 225). The lumbar region was the most affected (36.4%; n = 135). Men showed higher frequency of lumbar problems (p <0.01) than women. Workers of older age reported more musculoskeletal disorders in various body segments. The miners working more hours also reported higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in some regions of the body. Those miners with longer service time also reported more musculoskeletal disorders present in some body segments. Conclusion: informal workers from the Serido region in the state of Paraiba presented high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, with greater problems in the lumbar and dorsal regions. The age, the length of service in the mining and the working hours contributed to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. It is necessary to consider the working hours, the length of service and the age of workers to propose interventional measures.