Exposure to job related risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory workers
¹Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Chair of Biosystems Engineering, Kreutzwaldi 56, EE51006 Tartu, Estonia
²Tartu Health Care College, Physiotherapy and Environmental Health Department, Nooruse 5, EE50411 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: kristivahur@nooruse.ee
Abstract:
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are the most common work-related diseases among health care workers including medical laboratory workers (MLW). Laboratory workers, when performing different work tasks, are exposed to repetitive movements, static and uncomfortable forced positions. The aim of this study was to explain the occurrence of WRMSDs among medical laboratory workers in relation to job related risk factors, tools and equipment, when performing specific work tasks.
Material and methods: The study involved the Estonian MLWs from three regional and four central hospitals. The criteria of the study group were experience ≥ 1 year and workload ≥ 0.5 staff. The e-questionnaire was sent to 502 laboratory workers.
Results: The response rate was 25.1%. To the questionnaire answered 126 MLWs, whereas the sample criteria met 122 respondents. There was significant association between nature of the work and shoulder pain in past month and 12 months among MLWs (p < 0.05). The most affected body regions were low back and neck. Work tasks which involved repetitive movements and forced position more than 1 hour were related to pain in low back, neck, and shoulders (in all cases p < 0.05). Those who worked in sitting posture, reported less neck pain both in the past and 12 months, compared to the workers who worked in both sitting and standing posture (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Conclusions: MLW are at high risk of WRMSDs. So, improvement of workplace ergonomics and rising risk awareness are very important interventions among MLWs.
Key words:
job tasks, laboratory workers, musculoskeletal pain, tools and equipment