• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.49-59
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was carried out to rind out the prevalence of occupational musculoskeletal disorders among workers in manufacturing industries, so that the result could provide basic data necessary to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Information on general characteristics, occupational characteristics, and musculoskeletal symptoms were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire between October and November in 2002, from 345 workers in Kim-hae and Ulsan, Kyung-nam province. The data were analyzed for chi-square test by using SPSS NVIN 10.0 program. The results are as follows: According to the self-reports, among musculoskeletal symptoms complain on shoulders are topping for 50.4%, low back is followed for 40.6%, leg/foot 35.7%, neck 34.5%, wrist/hand/finger 30.1%, and arm 24.3%. According to occupational characteristics prevalence by anatomical site, about neck pains 119 subject, occupational satisfaction is 62,6% in moderate group, work shift is 71.8% in no work shift group, each significant high. Symptom complain rate of 104 patients who complained on wrist, hand and finger pain is significantly related that 36.5% below 5 years and 36.5% above 15 years have been worked group. And each of them are significantly related 77.9% in labor workers group, 70% in no work shift group, 54.8% in frequent transfer group. Among 140 subjects who have back pain, that is significationtly reported on 37.1% below 5 years and 37.9% above 15 years and 60.0% moderate satisfied occupation group have been worked group. Therefore, some efforts should be proceeded such as improvement of working condition, flexibility for changing work, more pleasant and better working environment, and etc.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in requirement and activity related to workers' health promotion according to business type and enterprise size. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data extracted from a survey on the Enterprise Health Promotion Index. For the present analysis, 7,784 companies were selected. Results: Requirements for lifestyle management and activities to prevent musculoskeletal disorders were the highest. The requirement and activity of musculoskeletal disorders and cerebrovascular disease were high in the manufacturing industry. Meanwhile, in the non-manufacturing industry, the requirement and activity of job stress management were high. Small-sized companies had a high requirement to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and cerebrovascular disease. Conclusion: Government support should be strengthened in workers' lifestyle management. Additionally, workers' health promotion in small-sized companies needs to focus on preventing musculoskeletal disorders and cerebrovascular disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2018

Background: According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 32% of all nonfatal injury and illness cases in 2014 among full-time workers. Our objective was to review and summarize the evidence linking occupational exposures to vibration and awkward posture with MSDs of the shoulder and neck. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the terms musculoskeletal disorders, vibration, and awkward posture. All types of observational epidemiologic studies, with the exception of case reports, published during 1998-2015 were included. Databases searched were MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, Ergonomic Abstracts, NIOSHTIC-2, and Health and Safety Science Abstracts. Results: Occupational exposures to whole-body or hand-arm vibration were significantly associated with or resulted in MSDs of the shoulder and neck. Awkward postures while working were also associated with MSDs in these locations. These findings were consistent across study designs, populations, and countries. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to vibration and awkward posture are associated with shoulder and neck MSDs. Longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for these associations, and intervention studies are warranted.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.171-174
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• 2016

Effective and sustainable prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WR-MSDs) remains a challenge for preventers and policy makers. Coordination of stakeholders involved in the prevention of WR-MSDs is a key factor that requires greater reflection on common knowledge and shared representation of workers' activities among stakeholders. Information on workers' strategies and operational leeway should be the core of common representations, because it places workers at the center of the "work situation system" considered by the intervention models. Participatory ergonomics permitting debates among stakeholders about workers' activity and strategies to cope with the work constraints in practice could help them to share representations of the "work situation system" and cooperate. Sharing representation therefore represents a useful tool for prevention, and preventers should provide sufficient space and time for dialogue and discussion of workers' activities among stakeholders during the conception, implementation, and management of integrated prevention programs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2010

Over years it has been increasingly concerned with how upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) are attributed to psychosocial job stressors. A review study was conducted to examine associations between UEMSDs and psychosocial work factors, and to recommend what to consider for the associations. For studies in which the job demand-control-support (DCS) model or its variables were specifically employed, published papers were selected and reviewed. A number of studies have reported relationships between UEMSDs symptoms and psychosocial exposure variables. For example, the findings are: higher numbness in the upper extremity was significantly attributed to by less decision latitude at work; work demands were significantly associated with neck and shoulder symptoms while control over time was associated with neck symptoms; and the combination of high psychosocial demands and low decision latitude was a significant predictor for shoulder and neck pain in a female working population. Sources of bias, such as interaction or study design, were discussed. UEMSDs were shown to be associated with psychosocial work factors in various studies where the job DCS model was addressed. Nonetheless, this review suggests that further studies should be conducted to much more clarify the association between UEMSDs and psychosocial factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.390-402
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• 2009

This study aimed to examine the general characteristics of individual workers, psychosocial working environment, and ergonomic risk factors which affect the status of musculoskeletal disorders. Self-report was carried out for musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks in working environment in 856 production workers in 16 small to medium sized manufacturing companies. Musculoskeletal symptoms were examined with a standardized questionnaire, and ergonomic risks were evaluated with a qualitative self-administered instrument for the tasks related to musculoskeletal disorders. Major findings were as follows: 1) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was higher in female, aged, married workers with longer working hours, less leisure/hobby activity, longer household working hours and history of disease or accident. 2) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers with dissatisfaction, difficult tasks, and no self-control at work. 3) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers involved in tasks with major ergonomic risk factors, and handling heavy equipment. 4) Explanatory power increased the model with the musculoskeletal symptoms as dependent variable and demographic variables, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors included, and total explanatory power of 18.6% revealed the significant effect. Based on the results, we can conclude that musculoskeletal symptoms in manufacturing workers are associated with individual demographic characteristics, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2010

Fire service personnel and ambulance paramedics suffer musculoskeletal disorders as they lift and carry patients while performing Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The objective of the current study was performed to examine the association between working environment and musculoskeletal disorders of 119 paramedics and to analysis the EMS activities for them through basic survey (including task characteristics, risk factors, symptoms and illnesses). Observational job analysis of EMS activities indicated the squatting posture during first-aid performed on floor and the abrupt use of force during carrying heavy load including stretcher with patients on as hazard factors, and excessive low back twisting and bending during stairway transfer was observed. In addition, work-physiological assessment revealed various but rather high lumbar muscle usage rate among the study subjects, being 14.6~32.8% compared with Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) during patients transfer work. Resting heart rate showed 65/min, on the other hand, heart rate on mobilization indicated maximum 124~156/min. Therefore, the results of analysis to the EMS activities, rescuer activities and medical tasks were accompanied with high possibility of accident and musculoskeletal disorders. Also, EMS activities indicated high muscle fatigue and energy consumption, and accumulated muscle fatigue with during continued work.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.137-144
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• 2023

One of the methods being suggested as a way to address social issues is the utilization of big data analysis techniques. In this study, we utilized keyword network analysis and CONCOR analysis techniques to analyze the research trends on work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The findings of this study are as follows: Firstly, the number of papers on work-related musculoskeletal disorders has been consistently increasing, with an average of over 33 articles published per year since the investigation of musculoskeletal risk factors in 2003. The publication rate showed an increase from 2007 to 2009. Secondly, the frequency of the top keywords identified through text mining were as follows: work (4,940), musculoskeletal disorders (2,197), symptoms (1,836), related (1,769), musculoskeletal system (1,421). Thirdly, the CONCOR analysis resulted in the formation of four clusters: ' Musculoskeletal disorder treatment', 'Occupational health and safety management', 'Work environment assessment', and ' Workplace environment measurement'. It is expected that this study will contribute to the development of research on musculoskeletal disorders and provide various directions for future studies.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2010

This study aimed to examine the development and characteristics of the workers with upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and to analyze the upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders for its relationship with the individual socio-demographic characteristics. This study investigated the effect on the limitations of physical activities using standardized surveillance tool and clinical diagnosis. Musculoskeletal symptoms and the limitations of physical activities were examined. The clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders were carried out by physical examination, radiological examination and electromyography-electroneuronography for 22 workers in kitchen hood assembly process and 50 workers in toggle process of leather product manufacturing. The proportion of workers with musculoskeletal disorders was higher and the DASH score was also statistically higher in female and aged workers with longer working hours, longer household working hours, less leisure/hobby activity and higher physical load. Physical activities component score increased in the following order: workers in normal health, workers with musculoskeletal symptoms, and workers with musculoskeletal disorders as clinically diagnosed. Score for each DASH component increased in the following order: sports/performing arts ability, social activities, specific physical functional activities, work or other regular daily activities, work ability, psychological activities, insomnia and upper limb symptoms. The overall and each component DASH scores were higher in workers with symptoms of status praesens and of more severity, and receiving medical intervention. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders are associated with individual socio-demographic characteristics, and DASH score for physical activities of upper limb was higher in workers with musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders have a remarkable epidemiological significance for physical activities, social activities, work or other regular daily activities, upper limb symptoms and insomnia, where work ability, sports/performing arts ability and preventive measure is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.284-289
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• 2006

In 2003, Korean government made the 11 scopes of overburdened work[Ministry of Labor(MOL), Notification No. 2003-24] to prevent musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs). MOL Notification was established based on 'Washington Administrative Code 296-62-051, Ergonomics'. When initially investigating the contents, the labor unions and the specialists pointed out the possibility of devaluation on risk factors of MSDs. The present study aimed to compare the result of the NIOSH revised lifting equation(NLE) analysis with the MOL Notification(No.8, 9, 10) on manual lifting tasks. A study sample of 568 manual lifting tasks (automobile parts, foods, and tire manufacture) were evaluated for this study. All 502 tasks exceed lifting index(LI) of 1.0, but 276 tasks(55.0%) out of 502 tasks were evaluated non-over burdened work for musculoskeletal system by the MOL Notification. Particularly, 47 tasks(30.9%), in spite of exceeding LI of 3.0, were evaluated non-over burdened work. This study has shown the possibility of devaluation on risk factors of MSDs, when evaluated by MOL Notification. Therefore, it will be necessary to repeal or complement the scope of over-burdened work(MOL Notification) to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.