Journal of the Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회지)

The Korean Society of Safety (한국안전학회)
권호 표지

Relationship between Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Occupational and Personal Factors among Street Cleaners

일부 거리환경미화원의 근골격계 증상 유병률과 직업적 및 개인적 요인의 관련성

  • Jung, Suk-Chul (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Kyung-Sun (Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Ajou University) ;
  • Jung, Myung-Chul (Department of Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Ajou University) ;
  • Lee, In-Seok (Department of Safety Engineering, Hankyong National University) ;
  • JungChoi, Kyung-Hee (Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha womens University School of Medicine) ;
  • Bahk, Jin-Wook (School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Hyun-Joo (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine)
  • 정석철 (단국대학교 의과대학 산업의학교실) ;
  • 이경선 (아주대학교 산업정보시스템공학부) ;
  • 정명철 (아주대학교 산업정보시스템공학부) ;
  • 이인석 (한경대학교 안전공학과) ;
  • 정최경희 (이화여자대학교 의학전문대학원 예방의학교실) ;
  • 박진욱 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경건강교실) ;
  • 김현주 (단국대학교 의과대학 산업의학교실)
  • Received : 2010.04.14
  • Accepted : 2010.12.14
  • Published : 2010.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate occupational and individual risk factors and working conditions in relation to musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners. Investigation was conducted through a survey of 395 male street cleaners employed by the government office in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chung-Nam from July to August of 2009. The control group was comprised of 143 male drivers and security guards. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners were investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis and also evaluated ergonomic risk factors by assessing working conditions of 4 street cleaners. As a result of symptom questionnaires, all of the prevalent rates of musculoskeletal symptoms in street cleaners had significantly higher results than those of the control group(p<0.05). On binary logistic regression analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, street cleaners showed significant higher odds ratio as 18.84(95%CI: 6.56-54.12) in the arm/elbow, 10.49(95%CI: 4.29-25.65) in the hand/wrist compared to the control group. Both absence of rest breaks and exposure to ergonomic risk factors showed to be important internal risk factors of musculoskeletal symptoms among street cleaners. The exposure levels of QEC(Quick exposures checklist) in street cleaners were revealed to be higher on the shoulder/arm, wrist/hand, and neck than back, or from stress. The findings appear to show that street cleaners were high-risk group of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore street cleaners require a holistic interventional strategy, including adequate arrangement of rest breaks, improvement of working tools and control of individual risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

Keywords

References

  1. Korean Statistical Information Service, "Current state of employment in Korea", Available: http://laborstat.molab.go.kr, 2008.
  2. Statistics Korea, "Labor condition according to occupation", Available: http://www.kostat.go.kr, 2008.
  3. J.P. Myong, H.K. Lee, H.R. Kim, H.S. Jung, E.H. Jeong, W. Nam, JW. Koo, "Musculo-skeletal symptoms of municipal sanitation workers and ergonomic evaluation on upperlimb", Korean J. Occup. Environ. Med., Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 93-103, 2008.
  4. C.Y. Yang, W.T. Chang, H.Y. Chuang, S.S Tsai, T.N. Wu, F.C. Sung, "Adverse health effects among household waste collectors in Taiwan", Environ. Res., Vol. 85, No. 3, pp. 195-199, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.2000.4235
  5. H.K. Lee, J.P. Myong, E.H. Jeong, H.S. Jung, J.W. Koo, "Ergonomic workload evaluation and musculoskeletal symptomatic features of street cleaners", Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 147-152, 2007. https://doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2007.26.4.147
  6. Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, "KOSHA Code H-30-2008", Available: http://www.kosha.net/shdb/common/getFile.jsp?contentId=4112&index=1, 2008.
  7. W.M. Keyserling, "Postural analysis of the trunk and shoulders in simulated real time", Ergonomics, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 569-583, 1986. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140138608968292
  8. T.K. Foreman, J.D.G. Troup, "Diurnal variation in spinal loading and the effects on stature: a preliminary study of nursing activities", Clinical biomechanics, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 48-54, 1987. https://doi.org/10.1016/0268-0033(87)90048-9
  9. M.K. Chung, I.S. Lee, D.H. Kee, "Assessment of postural load for lower limb postures based on perceived discomfort", Industrial Ergonomics, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 17-32, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-8141(02)00115-4
  10. G. David, V. Woods, P. Buckle, "Further development of the usability and validity of the Quick Exposure Check(QEC)", Available: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research, 2005.
  11. E.W. Bakker, A.P. Verhagen, C. Lucas, H.J. Koning, B.W. Koes, "Spinal mechanical load: a predictor of persistent low back pain? A prospective cohort study", Eur. Spine J., Vol. 16, No. 7, pp. 933-941, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0347-5
  12. G. Byrns, G. Reeder, G. Jin, K. Pachis, "Risk factors for work-related low back pain in registered nurses, and potential obstacles in using mechanical lifting devices", J. Occup. Environ. Hyg., Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 11-21, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620490249992
  13. F. Tissot, K. Messing, S. Stock, "Studying the relationship between low back pain and working postures among those who stand and those who sit most of the working day", Ergonomics, Vol. 52, No. 11, pp. 1402-1418, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130903141204
  14. S. Dahaghin, S.A. Tehrani-Banihashemi, S.T. Faezi, A.R. Jamshidi, F. Davatchi, "Squatting, sitting on the floor, or cycling: are life-long daily activities risk factors for clinical knee osteoarthritis? Stage III results of a community-based study", Arthritis Rheum., Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 1337-1342, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24737
  15. Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., "Working on your feet", Available: http://www.ohcow.on.ca/resources/handbooks/working_on_your_feet/working_on_your_feet.pdf, 2005.
  16. M.L. Magnusson, M.H. Pope, D.G. Wilder, B. Areskoug, "Are occupational drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders?", Spine, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 710-717, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199603150-00010
  17. B. Rehn, T. Nilsson, B. Järvholm, "Neuromusculoskeletal disorders in the neck and upper extremities among drivers of all-terrain vehicles-a case series", BMC Musculoskelet. Disord., Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 1-7, 2004.
  18. L. McAtamney, E. Nigel Corlett, "RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders", Appl. Ergon., Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 91-99, 1993. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(93)90080-S
  19. G. David, V. Woods, G. Li, P. Buckle, "The development of the Quick Exposure Check(QEC) for assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders", Appl. Ergon., Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 57-69, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2007.03.002
  20. S. Gallagher, "Physical limitations and musculoskeletal complaints associated with work in unusual or restricted postures: A literature review", J. Safety Res., Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 51-61, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2004.12.001
  21. California Department of Industrial Relations, "Working Safer and Easier for Janitors, Custodians, and Housekeepers", Available: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/Janitors.pdf, 2005.
  22. J.B. Carter, E.W. Banister, "Musculoskeletal problems in VDT work: a review", Ergonomics, Vol. 37, No. 10, pp. 1623-1648, 1994. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139408964941
  23. R.A. Henning, P. Jacques, G.V. Kissel, A.B. Sullivan, S.M. Alteras-Webb, "Frequent short rest breaks from computer work: effects on productivity and wellbeing at two field sites", Ergonomics, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 78-91, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1080/001401397188396
  24. S.G. Van den Heuvel, M.P. de Looze, V.H. Hildebrandt, K.H. The, "Effects of software programs stimulating regular breaks and exercises on work-related neck and upper-limb disorders", Scand. J. Work Environ. Health, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 106-116, 2003. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.712
  25. T.L. Galinsky, N.G. Swanson, S.L. Sauter, J.J Hurrell, L.M. Schleifer, "A field study of supplementary rest breaks for data-entry operators", Ergonomics, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 622-638, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1080/001401300184297
  26. T. Galinsky, N. Swanson, S. Sauter, R. Dunkin, J. Hurrell, L. Schleifer, "Supplementary breaks and stretching exercises for data entry operators: a follow-up field study", Am. J. Ind. Med., Vol. 50, No. 7, pp. 519-527, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20472
  27. S.C. Wearing , E.M. Hennig, N.M. Byrne, J.R. Steele, A.P. Hills, "Musculoskeletal disorders associated with obesity: a biomechanical perspective", Obes. Rev., Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 239-250, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00251.x
  28. Y. Roquelaure, C. Ha, C. Rouillon, N. Fouquet, A. Leclerc, A. Descatha, A. Touranchet, M. Goldberg, E. Imbernon, "Risk factors for upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders in the working population", Arthritis Rheum., Vol. 61, No. 10, pp. 1425-1434, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24740
  29. A.E. Lincoln, G.S. Smith, P.J. Amoroso, N.S. Bell, "The effect of cigarette smoking on musculoskeletalrelated disability", Am. J. Ind. Med., Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 337-349, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10195