Improving work-related musculoskeletal disorders for sewing machine operators in Ethiopia

Objectives. Awkwardly designed sewing workstations in the garment industry cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) that cause global health concerns for industrial sewing operators. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating health risks and improvement interventions for sewing operators in Ethiopia. Methods. The strain index and standardized Nordic musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) questionnaire were used for data collection. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data and identify significant factors. Results. The study revealed that operators' sitting chair design in the sewing section has significant correlation with the occurrence of pain in different body parts, particularly in the upper and lower back body parts with a high odds ratio of more than 93% in the lower and upper back areas. Hence, the sitting chair was redesigned considering the operators' anthropometric measurements and workstation requirements to improve workers' safety and productivity. Conclusion. The study concludes that WRMSDs were significant in different body parts so it was crucial for appropriate intervention in redesigning the sewing workstations, particularly the sitting chair, to ensure health and safety of industrial sewing operators. The study therefore recommends implementation of the proposed ergonomic sitting chair to improve operators' safety and productivity.