Risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders among women workers performing fish processing

The study examined the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort (MSD) among workers engaged in fish processing activities and identified the occupational, environmental, and psychosocial factors contributing to the MSDs.

An ergonomics checklist and questionnaire on general health and psycho-social issues were administered to women workers (N = 450). The relative risk for MSDs due to demographic factors, stress symptoms, and task variables were estimated.

Nearly 71% of the women (age 23.0 ± 6.4 years) reported MSDs, chiefly in upper back (54%), lower back (33%), knee (35%), and shoulders (27%). Workers engaged in mixed task (OR 13.8; CI 8.7-22.0), ring cutting (OR 18.3; CI 11.8-24.7), having job experience <3 years (OR1.9; CI1.3-2.9), being married (OR 1.5; CI 1.1-2.2), BMI18-25 (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.8) had increased risk of MSDs in the upper back. The severity of pain was high among the workers with elevated co-morbidity (pain in two or more regions). One third of the workers perceived the work environment to be cause of their MSDs. Multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression model indicated that highly specialized job (OR 13.0; CI 4.7-14.2), high physical activity (OR 11.7; CI 4.6-12.7), improperly designed tools (OR 8.1; CI 3.5-9.5), poor training (OR 7.0; CI 3.3-7.5), and poor job satisfaction (OR 1.5; CI 1.1-4.8) significantly increased the risk of MSDs. Almost all the psychosocial and work stress factors were associated with lower back MSD.

A cold and humid environment, awkward standing work posture for long hours, high physical activities, poor task clarity, and high mental overload are important risk factors for the development of MSDs.