A Study of Musculoskeletal Symptoms Prevalence and Human Factor Hazards for Printing Press Workers
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Hsiung, Pin-Hsien
Abstract
Printing industry is an important medium and small enterprise in Taiwan. Printing press workers work and stand for a long time and move lots of heavy stuff during their daily job routine. Besides, they work with faulty posture and repetitive upper limb actions. These are potential dangerous factors for work which may cause musculoskeletal disorders and influence working effectiveness. We have to pay attention to these factors. The purpose of this research lies in discussing the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders suffered by offset printing press workers in domestic printing factories. In addition, the research discusses the hazard factors for working muscle and bone. It will serve as a reference for the implementation of policies and improvement of working environments used by governmental and industrial organizations in the future.
This research is a cross-sectional research with questionnaires. The objects are printing press workers from 6 printing factories, three in northern, middle, and southern Taiwan respectively. Totally 153 questionnaires are issued and 138 effective questionnaires are returned. Among them, there are 91 printing press workers of which 47 administrative groups are in the contrast group. We survey musculoskeletal disorders through Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and MSDs check list. The obtained figures are checked by Chi-square test, univariate logistic regression, and multivariate logistic regression. Then we correct ages, working experiences, BMI factors, exercise, and smoking, analyzing the correlation between the exposure to hazard factors and the musculoskeletal disorders.
Results of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) show that printing press workers complained about more musculoskeletal disorder (i.e., sores, pains and numbness) than administrative workers either in the upper limbs (neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and upper back) or in the lower back/lower limbs (buttocks, knees, shanks, ankles). The printing press workers reported the highest percentage, or 75%, of discomforts in the lower back, followed by 71% of neck discomforts and 66% of wrist discomfort. The results were examined using a Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Checklist, with the upper/lower limb risk factors evaluated in a logistic regression analysis and the respondents’ data (i.e., age, superiority on job, BMI factor, exercise and smoking) adjusted. The dependent variables were the degree of musculoskeletal disorder (i.e., soars, pains and numbness) in each body part complained and rated by four groups of respondents (assistants, cutters, lead operators and administrative workers) while the independent variables were the risk factors in parts of upper/lower limbs. The respondents’ improper postures while working were derived from the analysis. Firstly, improper postures regarding the lower back included body bent forward more than 20 degrees, body bent forward more than 45 degrees, standing for long periods of time without support, and pushing/pulling weights, with a 0.10 (0.05-0.15) β-value and a 0.0002 P-value for the lower back. While the respondents had hand-grip strength of averagely 4.5 kilograms, the improper postures regarding hands/wrists included wrists bent forward more than 20 degrees and the back bent more than 30 degrees, which were proved statistically related to the right and left wrists, given the 0.14 (0.06-0.22) OR and 0.0005 P-value for the right wrist, and the 0.17 (0.09-0.25) OR and 0.0001 P-value for the left. As for the repetitive tasks performed by both elbows, a task that mixes keyboard-enabled data entry with other miscellaneous tasks, and miscellaneous tasks that account for 50%-75% of the workload proved statistically related to the right/left elbow, with a 0.10 (0.001-0.20) OR and a 0.048 P-value; a 0.08 (0.023-0.14) OR and a 0.007 P-value, respectively.
This research further adopts 3D SSPP developed by University of Michigan, USA. We found the back loading results of three groups of printing press workers and administrative personnel are as follows: 1) each time of moving by helper will cause the back loading of 3267 N; 2) each time of moving by cutters will cause the back loading of 2799 N; 3) each time of moving by press operator will cause the back loading of 2525 N; 4) each time of moving by administrative personnel will cause the back loading of 705 N.
Generally speaking, the majority of printing press workers suffers from the musculoskeletal disorders. We should figure out how to improve the situation of their musculoskeletal disorders of upper limb, lower back, waist, and lower limb. This research suggests future researchers pay attention to the designing of ergonomics and personal protection for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in the future.
Subjects
printing press workers
prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders
exposure to dangerous factors
cross-sectional research
3D SSPP
human factors engineering
Type
thesis
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