Abstract
Multiple studies have reported high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among supermarket workers. Technical field measurements can provide important knowledge about ergonomic risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in the physical working environment, but these measurements are lacking in the supermarket sector. Therefore, using wearable electromyography and synchronous video recording in 75 supermarket workers, this cross-sectional study measured muscular workload during stocking activities in six different types of general store departments and during the thirteen most common work tasks across five different supermarket chains. Our results showed that muscular workload varies, especially for the low-back muscles, across (1) supermarket chains, (2) departments, and (3) specific stocking activities. Highest workloads of the low-back and neck/shoulders were seen in the fruit and vegetables department and during heavy, two-handed lifts of parcels (especially without using technical aids). In conclusion, physical work demands during supermarket stocking activities differ between chains, departments, and work tasks. These results can be used by company representatives and work environment professionals to specifically address and organize the stocking procedures to reduce the muscular workload during supermarket stocking.
Highlights
Multiple studies have reported high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among supermarket workers
While most earlier studies have been focusing solely on the repetitive physical work of cashier work24,25, the present study focused on the physical work demands during supermarket stocking, including the transportation of goods from the storage rooms into the shopping area, where the goods are rearranged and/or stocked onto the shelves
The analyses suggested department-specific stocking practices, whereby some work tasks occurred more commonly in some departments compared to other departments (ChiSquare p < 0.0001)
Summary
Multiple studies have reported high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among supermarket workers. Our results showed that muscular workload varies, especially for the low-back muscles, across [1] supermarket chains, [2] departments, and [3] specific stocking activities. Physical work demands during supermarket stocking activities differ between chains, departments, and work tasks. These results can be used by company representatives and work environment professionals to address and organize the stocking procedures to reduce the muscular workload during supermarket stocking. Workers in supermarkets (or grocery stores) represent one job group with both high physical work demands and high prevalence of MSD, especially with regards to low-back (LBP) and neck/shoulder pain (NSP). The daily workload was associated with higher pain intensity in the low-back the following day Scientific Reports | (2022) 12:934
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