Ann Occup Environ Med.  2018 ;30(1):58. 10.1186/s40557-018-0269-1.

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

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea. oss0609@yonsei.ac.kr.

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Work-related low back pain; Ergonomic risk factors; Simultaneous exposure; Fourth Korean working conditions survey (KWCS)

MeSH Terms

Arm
Back Pain
Cross-Sectional Studies*
Hand
Lifting
Logistic Models
Low Back Pain*
Methods
Posture
Risk Factors*
Full Text Links
  • AOEM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr