Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2012 Dec;24(4):410-419.

Occupational Risk Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Public Workers

• Noh SK
• Choi JH
• Shin DH
• Lee MY
• Chung IS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the occupational risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in public workers.
METHODS
In November 2010, 544 participants anwered a survey that included questions on the participants' general characteristics, job-related factors, health-related behaviors, and psychosocial stress. We measured the relationship of risk factors to musculoskeletal symptoms using a logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
After adjusting for general characteristics, factors associated with occupational musculoskeletal symptoms were gender (OR=2.858, 95% CI=1.701~4.801), unnatural posture (OR=2.386, 95% CI=1.308~4.354), psychosocial stress (OR=4.051, 95% CI=1.336~12.282) and sleep quality (OR=1.672, 95% CI=1.052~2.660).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that psychosocial stress levels and physical environment (especially in professions requiring an unnatural posture) are related to musculoskeletal symptoms in public workers.

Keyword

Public workers; Musculoskeletal symptoms; Psychosocial stress

MeSH Terms

Logistic Models
Posture
Risk Factors

Reference

1. Cho SJ, Lee BH, Lee YM, Na IG, Kim KM. SK Noh . Publicsector employment analysis using KLI business panel data. 2009. 03. 10. Korea Labor Institude;(Korean).

2. Putz AV. Recognizing cumulative trauma disorders. Cumulative trauma disorders: a manual for musculoskeletal disease of the upper limbs. 1994. Bristol: Taylor & Francis Inc;1–31.

3. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. Analysis of 2010's industrial accidents. cited October 2012. Available: http://oshri.kosha.or.kr/board(Korean).

4. Wells R. Why have we not solved the MSD problem? Work. 2009. 34(1):117–121.

5. Park CY, Cho KH, Lee SH. Cervicobrachial disorders of female international telephone operators I. Subjective symptoms. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 1989. 1(2):141–150. (Korean).

6. Yoon CS, Lee SH. Symptom prevalence and related factors of upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in automobile related job workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 1999. 11(4):439–448. (Korean).

7. Sim YJ, Kim HA. Rate of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms complained by some insurance inspectors. Korean J Occup Health. 2002. 41(3):120–130. (Korean).

8. Sung NJ, Sakong J, Chung JH. Musculoskeletal disorders and related factors of symphony orchestra players. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2000. 12(1):48–58. (Korean).

9. Yun JS. Study on the work related stress and musculoskeletal symptoms among practicing dentists. 1999. Graduate School of Public Health. Chungnam National University;Unpublished Master's Dissertation. (Korean).

10. Park BC, Cheong HK, Kim SK. Risk factors related to musculoskeletal symptoms in shipyard workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2003. 15(4):373–387. (Korean).

11. Jang EC, Kim HJ, Kwon YJ, Park SB, Lee SJ, Song JC. The prevalence of cumulative trauma disorders of upper extremities among watch assembly workers in some small-scaled industry. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2000. 12(4):457–472. (Korean).

12. Yoo JI, Koo JW. Musculoskeletal symptoms and related factors for nurses and radiological technologists wearing a lead apron for radiation protection. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 16(2):166–177. (Korean).

13. Park SK, Choi YJ, Moon DH, Chun JH, Lee JT, Sohn HS. Work related musculoskeletal disorders of hairdresser. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2000. 12(3):395–404. (Korean).

14. Myong JP, Lee HK, Kim HR, Jung HS, Jeong EH, Nam W, Koo JW. Musculo-skeletal symptoms of municipal sanitation workers and ergonomic evaluation on upper limb. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2008. 20(2):93–103. (Korean).

15. Bae KJ, Lee KS, Kong YK, Oh GJ, Lee SJ. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and the ergonomic risk factors among oriental melon-growing farmers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2011. 23(1):1–8. (Korean).

16. Chang SJ. Standardization of collection and measurement of health statistics data. 2000. Seoul: The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine;111–135. (Korean).

17. Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The pittsburgh sleep quality index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989. 28(2):193–213.

18. Kim GD. A study on quality of sleep and sleep disturbing factor among community dwelling elderly. J Welf Aged. 2000. 7(1):173–192. (Korean).

19. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. SK Noh . KOSHA Report No. 2001-41-151. Evaluation of risk factors for the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. (Korean).

20. Jencks C, Perman L, Rainwater L. What is a good job? A new measure of labor-market success. Am J Sociol. 1988. 93(6):1322–1357.

21. Kalleberg AL, Vaisey S. Pathways to a good job: Perceived work quality among the machinists in north america. Br J Ind Relat. 2005. 43(3):431–454.

22. Kim HR, Won JU, Song JS, Kim CN, Kim HS, Roh J. Pain related factors in upper extremities among hospital workers using video display terminals. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2003. 15(2):140–149. (Korean).

23. Park SG, Chae HJ, Shin JY, Jung DY, Kim YK, Jung TJ, Leem JH, Kim HC, Lee YC. Relationship of burdened workand musculoskeletal symptoms in small to medium sized enterprises. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2006. 18(1):59–66. (Korean).

24. Yoon J, Yi K, Kim S, Oh J, Lee J. The relationship between occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in call center employees. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2007. 19(4):293–303. (Korean).

25. Kim BK, Park CY, Yim HW, Koo JW, Lee KS. Selection of a high risk group and the effectiveness of an exercise program on musculoskeletal symptoms in small and medium sized enterprises. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 17(1):10–25. (Korean).

26. Nam KC, Jang SW, Jhun HJ, Park JT. Estimated number of korean workers with back pain and population based associated factors of back pain: data from the fourth Korea national health and nutrition examination survey. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2009. 21(4):365–377. (Korean).

27. 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).

28. Oh JI, Yoo DH, Paek DM, Park JS, Cho SI. Association between physical workload and work-related back pain: A Nationwide study. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2011. 23(3):298–308. (Korean).

29. Shin KS, Chung YK, Lee HE. Prevalence and risk factors of work-related low back pain among operators and drivers of transportation vehicle. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2012. 24(1):11–19. (Korean).

30. Lee EC, Kim HC, Jung DY, Kim DH, Leem JH, Park SG. Association between job-stress and VDT work, and musculoskeletal symptoms of neck and shoulder among white-collar workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2007. 19(3):187–195. (Korean).

31. Yoo SK, Choi CK, Song HS, Lee CG. Relationship between occupational stress-emotional labor and musculoskeletal symptoms and experience of absence or early leave in some civil affairs officials. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2011. 23(2):192–202. (Korean).

32. Jeon ES, Lee KS, Lee SY, YU JH, Hong AR. The relationship between job stress and quality of life for hospital workers by type of employment. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2009. 21(1):28–37. (Korean).

33. Koh SB, Son M, Kong JO, Lee CG, Chang SJ, Cha BS. Job characteristics and psychosocial distress of atypical workers. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2004. 16(1):103–113. (Korean).

34. Geertje AM, Willem M, Paulien MB, Lex M, Bouter GW. Psychological risk factor for neck pain: a systemic review. Am J Ind Med. 2001. 39:180–193.

35. 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).

36. Ferrie JE, et al. Health effects of anticipation of job change and non-employment; longitudinal data from the whitehall II study. BMJ. 1995. 311(7015):1264–1269.

37. Gore S. Stress buffering functions of social support; an appraisal and clarification of research model. dohrenwend(eds) stressful life events and their context. 1981. New York: Wiley.

38. Vahtera J, et al. Effect of organizational downsizing on health of employees. Lancet. 1997. 350(9085):1124–1128.

39. Kivimaki M, et al. Factors underlying the effects of organizational downsizing on health of emploees: longitudinal cohort study. BMJ. 2000. 320(7240):971–975.

40. Ha J, Kim DI, Seo BS, Kim WS, Ryu S, Kim SG. Job stress and psychosocial stress among firefighters. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2008. 20(2):104–111. (Korean).

41. Kim HC, Kwon KS, Koh DH, Leem JH, Park SG, Shin JY, Lee YC, Kim YK. The relationship between job stress and psychosocial stress among nurses at a university hospital. Korean J Occup Environ Med. 2005. 18(1):25–34. (Korean).

42. Moon JI, Park DH. A study on relationship between symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial stress for electronical product assembly workers. 2009. 02. Inha Univ;(Korean).