Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2012 Sep;24(3):239-251.

Risk Factors for Absenteeism due to Work related Musculo-skeletal Disorders among Korean Employees

• Lee SG
• Kim JE
• Kim YK
• Kwon OJ
• Kang DM

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Absenteeism due to musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) of workers is an important index of occupational health. Since research on its causes is rare in Korea, the risk factors for absenteeism due to MSDs should be studied.
METHODS
Using the 2nd Korean working condition survey data, we investigated the prevalence of absenteeism due to MSDs. We also analyzed the risk factors for absenteeism by multiple logistic regression analysis in Korean employees.
RESULTS
Prevalence of absenteeism due to MSDs was 0.7% in all employees, 0.5% in men, and 0.9% in women. In logistic regression analysis, gender, age, presence of a representative worker organization, working on tight deadlines, and pace of work dependent on automated equipment/machine were risk factors of absenteeism due to MSDs for both sexes. For males, working time, working at a very high speed were additional risk factors. For females, pace of work dependent on numerical production, performance, and targets were additional risk factors. Although not included in the multiple logistic regression analysis, handling heavy loads in both sexes and average monthly income for women were risk factors in the univariate analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
For absenteeism due to MSDs, the presence of a representative worker organization, along with work pace and its determinants were important risk factors.

Keyword

Sickness absence; Musculo-skeletal disorders; Working condition survey

MeSH Terms

Absenteeism
Female
Handling (Psychology)
Humans
Korea
Logistic Models
Male
Occupational Health
Prevalence
Risk Factors

Reference

1. Persson G, Barlow L, Karlsson A. Persson G, Boström G, Diderichsen F, editors. Chapter 3. Major health problems. Scand J Public Health. 2001. 29:Suppl 58. 1–231. Health in Sweden: the National Public Health Report 2001.

2. Alexanderson K. Sickness absence in a Swedish county with reference to gender, occupation, pregnancy and parenthood. 1995. Linköping: Linköping University.

3. Leijon M, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Gender trends in sick-listing with musculoskeletal symptoms during a period of rapid increase in sickness absence in a Swedish county. Scand J Soc Med. 1998. 26:204–213.

4. Nachemson A, Jonsson E. Neck and back pain: the scientific evidence of causes, diagnoses, and treatment. 2000. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

5. Health and safety executive. cited 12 April 2012. Available: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0910.pdf.

6. Bureu of labor statistics. Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work, 2010. cited 12 April 2012. Available: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh2.pdf.

7. Marras WS, Cutlip RG, Burt SE, Waters TR. National occupational research agenda (NORA) future directions in occupational musculoskeletal disorder health research. Appl Ergon. 2009. 40(1):15–22.

8. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. SG Lee . Cause of industrial accident compensation insurance works related disease. cited 26 April 2012. Available: http://www.kosha.or.kr/board?tc=RetrieveBoardListCmd&boardType=A&contentId=342385&pageNum=1&urlCode=T3|Y|555|6|6|46|551|555|/board|N&tabId=&searchField=TITLE&searchInput=.

9. Hong KH, Kim DS, Kwon OJ, Kim EA. The prevalence of work related sickness absences according to the second Korean working condition survey. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2011. 23(4):428–438. (Korean).

10. Kim JE, Kang DM, Shin YC, Son MA, Kim JW, Ahn JH, Kim YK, Moon DH. Risk factors of work -related musculoskeletal symptoms among ship-yard workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2003. 15(4):401–410. (Korean).

11. Park SG, Lee JY. Characteristics and odds ratio of work related musculoskeletal disorders according to job classification in small-to-medium-sized enterprises. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 16(4):422–435. (Korean).

12. Lee KH, Yoon JH, Kim SK, Cho IJ, Oh SS, Kim SH, Chang SJ, Cha BS, Koh SB. The relationship of physical and psychosocial risk factors to work-related musculoskeletal upper extremity symptoms amongst male automobile manufacturing workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2012. 24(1):72–85. (Korean).

13. Lee CG, Park J, Park JS, Sohn SJ. Sociopsychological factors associated with symptoms of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 17(2):104–115. (Korean).

14. Kim I, Koh SB, Kim JS, Kang DM, Son M, Kim Y, Song J. The relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and job stress & intensity of labor among shipbuilding workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 16(4):401–412. (Korean).

15. Kim YK, Kang DM, Koh SB, Son BC, Kim JW, Kim DW, Kim GH, Han SH. Risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among motor engine assembly plant workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 16(4):488–498. (Korean).

16. Kim HH, Park HJ, Park KH, Kim W, Yoo CY, Kim JH, Park JS. An analysis of characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors. J Ergon Soc Korea. 2009. 28(3):17–25. (Korean).

17. Marmot M, Feeney A, Shipley M, North F, Syme SL. Sickness absence as a measure of health status and functioning from the UK Whitehall II study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1995. 49(2):124–130.

18. Canjuga M, Hämmig O, Bauer GF, Läubli T. Correlates of short- and long-term absence due to musculoskeletal disorders. Occupational Medicine. 2010. 60:358–361.

19. IJzelenberg W, and A, Burdorf MSc, Burdorf A. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and ensuing health care use and sick leave. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005. 30(13):1550–1556.

20. Lund T, Labriola , Christensen KB, Bultmann U, Villadsen E. Physical work environment risk factors for long term sickness absence: prospective findings among a cohort of 5357 employees in Denmark. BMJ. 2006. 332(7539):449–452.

21. Yoo SW, Lee HE, Koh DH, Kim KS, Kim TW, Kim MG, Yu KY. Relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and non-fatal occupational Injuries in construction workers in Korea. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2011. 23(1):9–17. (Korean).

22. Lee DH, Park SG, Leem JH, Kim HC, Kim DH, Kim JH, Lee SJ, Kim GW. Current status of sickness absences and early leaves from work among workers with work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in each body part and relevant factors. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2010. 22(4):364–370. (Korean).

23. Alexopoulos EC, Konstantinou EC, Bakoyannis G, Tanagra D, Burdorf A. Risk factors for sickness absence due to low back pain and prognostic factors for return to work in a cohort of shipyard workers. Eur Spine J. 2008. 17:1185–1192.

24. van den Heuvel SG, Ariëns GA, Boshuizen HC, Hoogendoorn WE, Bongers PM. Prognostic factors related to recurrent low-back pain and sickness absence. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004. 30(6):459–467.

25. Morken T, Riise T, Moen B, Hauge SH, Holien S, Langedrag A, Pedersen S, Saue IL, Seljebø GM, Thoppil V. Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003. cited 12 April 2012. 4(21):Available: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/4/21.

26. Ariëns GA, Bongers PM, Hoogendoorn WE, van der Wal G, van Mechelen W. High physical and psychosocial load at work and sickness absence due to neck pain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2002. 28(4):222–231.

27. Tsigonia A, Tanagra D, Linos A, Merekoulias G, Alexopoulos EC. Musculoskeletal disorders among cosmetologists. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2009. 6(12):2967–2979.

28. Koehoorn M, Demers PA, Hertzman C, Village J, Kennedy SM. Work organization and musculoskeletal injuries among a cohort of health care workers. Scand J Work Environ Health. 006. 08. 32(4):285–293.

29. Hartman E, Vrielink HO, Huirne R, Metz JHM. Risk factors for sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among self-employed dutch farmers: a case-control study. Am J Ind Med. 2006. 49:204–214.

30. Park JS, Lee NR. First Korean working conditions survey: a comparison between South Korea and EU countries. Ind Health. 2009. 47:50–54.

31. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Fourth European working conditions survey. 2007. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions;61–66.

32. Occupational safety & healthy research Institute. Second Korean working condition survey (2010) in press. Occupational safety & healthy research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency;(Korean).

33. Ministry of Health and Welfare. Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Development of regional health survey system. 2005. Seoul: Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

34. Lee KJ, Kim JJ. Relationship of shift work to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms in Korean female workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2008. 20(4):362–371. (Korean).

35. Park WJ, Im HJ, Won JU, Koh SB, Ju YS, Roh JH, Oh SY, Kwon YJ, Hwang CK, Lim JW. Factors related to occupational injuries and health problems for some female workers in non-standard employment. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2009. 21(4):301–313. (Korean).

36. Kim JH, Park SG, Kim DH, Kim HC, Leem JH, Lee EC, Lee DH, Lee JY. Absence and early leave status due to job stress and its relationship to job stress factors according to the Korean occupational stress scale among workers in small and medium scale Industry. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2009. 21(2):107–114. (Korean).

37. Chang SJ, Koh SB, Kang D, Kim SA, Chung JJ, Lee CG, Kang MG, Hyun SJ, Cho JJ, Cha BS, Park JK. Fatigue as a predictor of medical utilization, occupational accident and sickness absence. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 17(4):318–332. (Korean).

38. Park JS, Paek D, Lee KB, Rhee KY, Yi KH. Shiftwork and sickness absence in Korean manufacturing industries. Korean J Prev Med. 1994. 27(3):475–486. (Korean).

39. Chung HK. A study on sickness absence. Korean J Prev Med. 1980. 13(1):35–39. (Korean).

40. Lee DB, Lee TY, Cho YC, Lee YS, Oh JK, Park A. A Study On The Factors Of Absenteeism Among The Manufacturing Workers. Korean J Prev Med. 1993. 26(4):574–586. (Korean).

41. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. 5th european survey on working conditions (2010) questionnaire. cited 18 June 2012. Available: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/surveys/ewcs/2010/documents/masterquestionnaire.

42. Zhang Y, Sun Z, Zhang Z, Liu J, Guo X. Risk factors for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in Chinese population, A case-control study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009. 34(25):918–922.

43. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Managing musculoskeletal disorders. 2007. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions;67–69.

44. Kim KS, Roh J, Lee KJ, Chung HK, Moon YH. Woker's health status related working environment in small and medium sized industries. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 1993. 5(1):3–14. (Korean).

45. Kim H, Jeong WC. Symptom prevalence and primary intervention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their related factors among manufacturing workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 17(2):116–128. (Korean).

46. Menerd S. Applied logistic regression analysis. 2002. 2nd ed. London: Sage publication, Inc;78–80.

47. Karasek R, Brisson C, Kawakami N, Houtman I, Bongers P, Amick B. The job content questionnaire (JCQ): an instrument for internationally comparative assessments of psychosocial job characteristics. J Occup Health Psychol. 1998. 3:322–355.

48. Chang SJ, Koh SB, Kang D, Kim SA, Kang MG, Lee CG, Chung JJ, Cho JJ, Son M, Chae CH, Kim JW, Kim JI, Kim HS, Roh SC, Park JB, Woo JM, Kim SY, Kim JY, Ha M, Park J, Rhee KY, Kim HR, Kong JO, Kim IA, Kim JS, Park JH, Huyun SJ, Son DK. Developing an occupational stress scale for Korean employees. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 17(4):297–317. (Korean).