Abstract
Objective. Flight baggage handlers sort and load luggage to airplanes. This study aimed at investigating associations between psychosocial exposures and low back and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Swedish flight baggage handlers. Methods. A questionnaire addressing MSDs (Standardized Nordic Questionnaire) and psychosocial factors (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, COPSOQ) was answered by 525 baggage handlers in six Swedish airports. Results. Low back (LBP) and shoulder pain (SP) were reported by 70% and 60%, respectively. Pain was reported to interfere with work (PIW) by 30% (low back) and 18% (shoulders), and intense pain (PINT) occurred in 34% and 28% of the population. Quality of leadership was the most dissatisfying psychosocial factor, while the most positive was social community at work. Low ratings in the combined domain Work organization and job content were significantly associated with PIW in both low back and shoulders (Adjusted Hazard Ratios 3.65 (95% CI 1.67–7.99) and 2.68 (1.09–6.61)) while lower ratings in the domain Interpersonal relations and leadership were associated with PIW LBP (HR 2.18 (1.06–4.49)) and PINT LBP and SP (HRs 1.95 (1.05–3.65) and 2.11 (1.08–4.12)). Conclusion. Severity of pain among flight baggage handlers was associated with psychosocial factors at work, suggesting that they may be a relevant target for intervention in this occupation.
Highlights
IntroductionMore than 2000 airlines operated more than 23 000 aircrafts in 2006 [1]
Worldwide, more than 2000 airlines operated more than 23 000 aircrafts in 2006 [1]
When scales were combined into the domain Work organization and job content we found significant associations with pain inhibiting work, but not with intense pain, while Interpersonal relations and leadership were strongly associated with both expressions of pain
Summary
More than 2000 airlines operated more than 23 000 aircrafts in 2006 [1]. These aircrafts made more than 28 million scheduled departures, carrying more than 2 billion passengers. A substantial proportion of these passengers would be expected to bring baggage that is checked in and handled by flight baggage handlers at the airports of departure and arrival. Flight baggage handling services are similar in all larger airports, and so flight baggage handlers perform similar tasks all over the world. Workers handling flight baggage are typically engaged in manual tasks like sorting, loading and unloading baggage, mail and flight cargo to the airplanes, and so-called airport ramp service work.
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