POSTURE ANALYSIS AND PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG WAREHOUSE WORKERS IN A PETROCHEMICAL FACTORY

Abstract

          This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the work postures associated with musculoskeletal disorders among warehouse workers in a Petrochemical Factory. The 22 samples were used for the study of personal characteristics and others, and repeated samples to 120 episodes. They directly observed by OWAS method to assess body injury caused by awkward postures. Personal data, health, behavior conditions and work characteristics were collected using questionnaires including Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) which was used in assess musculoskeletal disorders. The study only focused on factory warehouse workers who worked as porters. The study sample comprised men with an average age of 35.27 ± 2.02 years old and whose average BMI was 22.45 ± 0.60. Fifty nine point one percent (59.1%) of the workers got medical service by self-treatment, 86.4% had no exercise and all had no underlying disease. Most had less than 3 years work experience and had no extra jobs. The workers had a responsibility to lift the products filling in truck containers 2 people per one truck container. They were assigned to lift products weighting 25 kilograms in 700 sacks per truck container. Each pair would spend less than 40 minutes per truck container. When lifting was done, they had a short break of about 5-10 minutes as they waited for the next rotation. Lower back pain was of the highest prevalence (55.8%) and above the shoulder level postures were significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders (p=0.036). The above were classified by OWAS as action category 4 postures (65%) and action category 3 (35%) postures that needed immediate and near future consideration respectively. It is therefore recommended that the workplace needs improving to provide fitness and recreation to increase muscle strength, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.