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Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders in Italian workers: is there an underestimation of the related occupational risk factors?
- Source :
- BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2020), BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent an important socio-economic burden. The current risk assessment and management involved in the ethiopathogenesis of WMSDs is based on observational tools and checklists, which have some limitations in terms of accuracy and reliability. The aim of this study was to assess WMSD prevalence and identify possible correlations with several socio-demographic and work-related variables in a large cohort representative of Italian workers in order to improve our understanding of the WMSD phenomenon. Methods This study includes data from INSuLa, a cross-sectional nationally representative survey of health and safety at work, developed by the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority. A total of 8000 Italian workers were included. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of independent variables, such as workers’ perceptions of exposure to biomechanical/ergonomic and video display unit (VDU) risks (Risk Perceived) and the actual risk exposure (Risk Detected) on Back, Lower and Upper limb pain. Socio-demographic, occupational and other health-related variables were included to investigate possible association with musculoskeletal disorders. Results Workers perceiving a significant exposure to biomechanical/ergonomic and VDU risks but not included in a health surveillance program for them (Risk Perceived/No Risk Detected) have had significantly higher odds of reporting musculoskeletal disorders. Regarding the biomechanical/ergonomic risk these workers are in the 19–24 age range (39.9%), transportation, warehousing/information and communication sectors (38.9%) and are employed in companies with more than 250 workers (35.8%). Regarding VDU risk, workers are in the 45–54 age range (24.5%), professional, financial and business services (38.0%) and come from companies with more than 250 employees (25.6%). Conclusions Within the occupational safety and health management systems an appropriate assessment of occupational risk factors correlated to musculoskeletal disorders (mainly biomechanical/ergonomic and VDU) and the correct definition of their exposure levels is essential to adequately prevent the onset of WMSDs. In this regard, our findings provide useful information to design novel approaches, aimed at improving our understanding of emerging risks, identifying gaps in current risk assessment strategies and enhancing workplace interventions are mandatory to improve the occupational risk assessment and management process and therefore implement the subsequent health surveillance systems.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Ergonomic risk
lcsh:Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Psychological intervention
Upper limbs
Health surveillance program
Musculoskeletal disorders
Occupational safety and health
Lower limb
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Rheumatology
Risk Factors
Environmental health
Epidemiology
Prevalence
Medicine
Humans
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Low back pain
030212 general & internal medicine
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Upper limb
Risk assessment
Biomechanical risk
business.industry
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
Lower limbs
Musculoskeletal disorder
Human factors and ergonomics
Reproducibility of Results
030210 environmental & occupational health
Occupational Diseases
Cross-Sectional Studies
Italy
Management system
Observational study
Female
Ergonomics
lcsh:RC925-935
business
Video display unit risk
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2020), BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ed95409548e6da73fa922c584e7aaed7