The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomic Risk Factors in Repair men: a Case Study in a Steel Industry

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries and disability in industrialized and developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and to determine the level of risk for acquiring these disorders among workers in the central workshop of a steel industry in 2015. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study done on 72 workers, the Nordic questionnaire was used to collect data related to musculoskeletal disorders and the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) method was used to determine the level of risk of these disorders and body postures. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 16 and using Chi-Square test and Logistic regression. Results: The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders were respectively in the low back (43.1%), knees (31.9%) and wrists (30.6%). The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was significantly related to age, work experience, and height (P<0.05). Also, there was a significant relation between the final QEC scores and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (P=0.048). Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was high among the workers and the most common musculoskeletal disorder was in the lumbar region. It is essential to identify and control the related risk factors, in order to care about the health of workers and to prevent physical injuries among them.