Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

Relationship between simultaneous exposure to ergonomic risk factors and work-related lower back pain: a cross-sectional study based on the fourth Korean working conditions survey: Jae-Yeop Kim, Ji-Su Shin, Myeong-Seob Lim, Hyeon-Gyeong Choi, Sung-Kyeong Kim, Hee-Tae Kang, Sang-Baek Koh, Sung-Soo Oh; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:58. Published online September 5, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0269-1

Background

It is well known that ergonomic risk factors and back pain are related. However, few studies have examined the relationship between simultaneous exposure to these risk factors and back pain in a Korean population. We aimed to investigate the relationship between simultaneous exposure to ergonomic risk factors and work-related lower back pain (LBP) based on the fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).

Method

The fourth KWCS (2014) was used for this study. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to assess relationship between 5 ergonomic risk factors and work-related LBP. We also analyzed the relationship between simultaneous exposure to 2 risk factors and work-related LBP.

Results

All 5 ergonomic risk factors (fatigue-inducing and painful posture; lifting or moving people; dragging, pushing, or moving heavy objects; standing posture; and repetitive hand or arm movements) were significantly correlated with work-related LBP in the severe exposure group (adjusted odd ratios [aOR] 5.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.46–5.83; aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.62–2.42; aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.82–2.40; aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.60–2.01; aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.82–2.30, respectively). When exposed to 2 risk factors simultaneously, the relationship between exposure and work-related LBP was not greater than exposure to only 1 risk factor in our study (usually exposed to ‘fatigue-inducing or painful posture’ aOR 2.17, 95% CI 2.02–2.34; high exposure to both ‘fatigue-inducing or painful posture’ and ‘dragging, pushing, or moving heavy objects’ aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.82–2.20).

Conclusions

There was a strong relationship between severe exposure to each ergonomic risk factor and work-related LBP. However, when exposed to 2 ergonomic risk factors simultaneously, the relationship between exposure and work-related LBP was not stronger than when exposed to only 1 risk factor in our study.

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Original Article

The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and the Ergonomic Risk Factors among Oriental Melon-growing Farmers: Kyu Jung Bae, Kyoung Sook Lee, Yong Ku Kong, Gyung Jae Oh, Soo Jin Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(1):1-8. Published online March 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.1.1

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in oriental melon-growing farmers and to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors of melon cultivation.
METHODS
The study included 217 subjects growing oriental melons mainly in 3 villages. Subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. Instruments used the general features and symptom table of NIOSH to evaluate tasks using ergonomic tools (REBA, OWAS).
RESULTS
A total of 202 final respondents answered. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms based on the NIOSH standard criteria was 162 (75.2%). The prevalence per body part for lower back, knee and shoulder were 102 (50.5%), 86 (42.6%) and 71 (35.1%), respectively. The prevalence of pain complaints of the musculoskeletal symptom was 91 (45.0%). The prevalence of complaints per body part of lower back, knee and shoulder were 54 (26.7%), 41 (20.3%) and 37 (18.3%), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed men were at higher risk compared to women (OR=2.409, 95% CI=1.071~5.389), and ore than 30 years of work having a higher risk compared to less than 30 years of work (OR=2.445, 95% CI=1.150~5.197). High risk tasks were moving around boxes and nursery plants for planting, transplanting nursery plants, and picking melons.
CONCLUSIONS
Musculoskeletal symptoms were very highly prevalent in oriental melon-growing farmers, showing up in 75.2% of cases. They were exposed to ergonomic high risk factors such as squatting. These risk factors must be improved in some way.

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