Ergonomic Risk Factors And Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Workers In The Cement Block Manufacturing Companies In Tema

ABSTRACT

Background: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) has for quite along time continued to be the world's leading health crisis among the working population. The prevalence or the disease burden among workers in the cement-block manufacturing companies in Ghana is not known. A study to determine the prevalence and the associated ergonomic risk factors of WRMDs among such working group is worth pursuing.

Objective: The study was to assess the ergonomic risk factors; mainly on awkward postures and work-related psychosocial stress factors and to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the male workers in the cement block manufacturing companies.

Methodology: A descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted among 103 participants from the Tema Metropolis. It involved workers from 17 different Cement Block Manufacturing (CBM) companies or enterprise. A modified Standard Nordic WRMSDs and Job Content Questionnaires and Videotaping were used to solicit information on self-reported symptoms of WRMSDs and work-related psychosocial stress factors respectively. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) worksheet was used for postural evaluation.

Results: All the 103 participants have experienced the WRMSDs at different body regions within the last 7 days and 12 months' prevalence. Low back pain was the most prevailing forms ofWRMDs (88.34%) among the workers.

Conclusion: WRMSDs is indeed endangering the health and safety of the workers. There is an urgent need for workers, owners of companies and the country as a whole to consider it as a national public health problem that needs an immediate remediation.

Key words: work-related musculoskeletal disorders, awkward postures, psychosocial risk factors.