title: Association of individual and work-related risk factors with musculoskeletal symptoms among Iranian sewing machine operators.
abstract: This cross-sectional study evaluated working conditions and the occurrence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among 251 Iranian sewing machine operators. A questionnaire and direct observations of working postures using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method were used. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly in the neck/shoulders, back and hands/wrists were found. The mean RULA grand score of 5.7 highlighted a poor sewing workstation design and indicated that most operators (with posture assessed at action level 3) needed an investigation and changes in their working habits soon. Work-related factors (including number of years worked as an operator, prolonged working hours per shift, long duration of sitting work without a break, feeling pressure due to work and working postures) and individual factors (including age, gender, BMI and regular sport/physical activities) were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in multiple logistic regression models. The findings add to the understanding of working conditions of those jobs involving sewing activities and emphasise the need for ergonomic interventions to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: dianati@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dianat
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: madeh.kord@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Madeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kord
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: pyzade@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yahyazade
authors.affiliation: Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch, Bushehr, Iran. Electronic address: karimi_a@live.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Human Systems Integration Group, Faculty of Engineering & Computing, Coventry University, UK. Electronic address: alex.stedmon@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alex W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stedmon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003020:Clothing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013783:Textile Industry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MSDs; RULA; Sewing operation