Relations between occupational, psychosocial and individual factors and three different categories of back disorder among supermarket workers.
OBJECTIVE
Up-to-date store-wide studies regarding low back pain (LBP) among supermarket/hypermarket workers are lacking. We investigated 12-month store-wide prevalence of different categories of LBP and possible associated biomechanical, individual/psychosocial risk factors across a large supermarket/hypermarket chain.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study of 3,702 subjects working in a group of small/medium-sized supermarkets (n=100) and large hypermarkets (n=7) belonging to a single chain in central-northern Italy applying established ergonomics/job-satisfaction policies. Data regarding the various departments were collected by a medical check-list, physical examination and questionnaire-all conducted by qualified physicians--and were analyzed in relation to a comprehensive biomechanical risk analysis.


RESULTS
The overall 12-month prevalence of LBP in our sample (with a 82% response rate) was 34.5% (36.6% for females and 30.7% for males), with few differences being found between supermarkets and hypermarkets. Different types of LBP showed significant associations with stress-related psychosomatic symptoms, but not with job satisfaction (which was high).


CONCLUSIONS
These encouraging data provide relevant information regarding workers operating in supermarkets/hypermarkets with an active commitment to ergonomic and job-satisfaction policies.
Occupational Health Unit (Medicina del Lavoro), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi, Via Palagi 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. francesco.violante@unibo.it
Francesco S
FS
Violante
Francesca
F
Graziosi
Roberta
R
Bonfiglioli
Stefania
S
Curti
Stefano
S
Mattioli
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications