Evaluation of lumbar overload in hotel maids.
BACKGROUND
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are responsible for important amount of declining productivity among workers. Its economic impact is considered important because, in some aspects, such as sickness absence, it can cause increase in costs for employers. This paper aimed at identifying whether the activities that the hotel maids perform during working hours may lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study conducted in a hotel in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Performed an ergonomic analysis of the job application with a checklist consisting of risk assessment of low back pain.


RESULTS
The maids are responsible for the cleaning of hotel rooms, including to lean in order to clean the bathroom. The activity is associated with ergonomic risk for poor posture, manual transport of loads and use of physical force in the upper limbs. This job presents a moderate risk of low back pain according to checklist for assessing the ergonomic situation.


CONCLUSIONS
Negative ergonomic aspects are associated with the development or aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders in these workers. We suggest modification in work organisation. Another possibility is decreased the weight of the carts, keeping areas of replacement material on each floor.
Deparment of Social Medicine, Santa Casa Medical Sciences School, Rua Dr. Cesário Mota Junior, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. silvajunior.js@gmail.com
J S
JS
Silva
L R C
LR
Correa
L C
LC
Morrone
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult