Objective: This study aims to investigate the one-year prevalence and the associated factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among furniture manufacturing workers in Guangdong, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 4181 (2953 males and 1228 females) furniture manufacturing workers was conducted between September 2019 and December 2019. All information about WMSDs was collected by the electronic version of Chinese Musculoskeletal Questionnaires (CMQ). Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used to interpret the data. Result: The overall prevalence of WMSDs was 31.57%. The WMSD symptoms most commonly occurred in the neck (16.77%), followed by the shoulders (14.90%), ankles/feet (14.64%), hands/wrists (13.30%), upper back (11.48%), and lower back (10.95%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that several individual, labor organization, and ergonomics-related factors conferred significant risks to WMSDs at different body sites. Conclusions: WMSDs remain the major occupational health problem for furniture manufacturing workers. Hence, some effective and feasible protective measures for furniture manufacturing workers are required in order to alleviate the health burden caused by WMSDs.

Exposure to adverse ergonomic factors is associated with elevated risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in medical personnel. We aimed to reveal how different adverse ergonomic factors act individually and in combination to influence the risk of WMSDs in medical personnel. From June 2018 to December 2020, we applied multistage cluster random sampling to select a total of 6,099 medical personnel from 54 hospitals in 12 cities in China. All participants were aged over 18 years and had at least one year of hospital working experience. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) model was employed to evaluate the effect of mixed exposures of multiple adverse ergonomic factors on the risk of WMSDs. Compared to a single factor, multiple adverse ergonomic factors significantly increased the risk of WMSDs across body parts, with an OR ranging from 2.83 (95% CI: 2.33, 3.43) to 6.92 (95% CI: 4.91, 9.74). “Working in awkward positions” had the greatest impact on the risk of WMSDs in the neck, shoulder, upper back, and lower back, while “standing for prolonged periods of time” mostly affected the risk of WMSDs in the foot, leg, and knee. Compared with single factor exposure, mixed exposure resulted in a higher risk of WMSDs.

Background: With the development of the electronics manufacturing industry, the demand for human resources has increased, which has also led to the frequent occurrence of multi-site work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Method: The participants (n = 7307) were recruited from 30 enterprises in China in 2018. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was estimated using a modified Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. The multivariate logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the effects of risk factors on multi-site musculoskeletal symptoms. Additionally, the log-binomial model was established to examine the correlation between the various sites of musculoskeletal symptoms in the body. Results: The 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among participants was 40.6%. The proportion of musculoskeletal symptoms involving single-site and 2/>2 body sites were 11.6% and 29.0%, respectively. The results of logistic regression showed that female adults who smoked, had >5-year job tenure, and always stood or sat for long period at work had a higher risk in 2/>2 body sites of musculoskeletal symptoms (p < 0.05). However, physical exercise during leisure time and “Squatting or kneeling for long period at work” were more frequently protective factors. Furthermore, the log-binomial model indicated that the neck and shoulder were significantly related to each other (Prevalence Ratio, PR: 5.511 and 7.017). Conclusions: Several demographic characteristics and work-related factors were associated with multi-site musculoskeletal symptoms in the electronics manufacturing industry in China. Improving the levels of physical exercise and reducing posture problems and force loads may help to promote the health of workers.

BACKGROUND: The automotive industry is labor-intensive, and workers are involved in highly repetitive tasks, long hours, and medium to low workloads, resulting in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), which have become a major health concern for workers in this industry. China is a major automotive country with tens of thousands of auto repair workers, but their conditions of WMSDs have been poorly reported. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to analyze the current prevalence of WMSDs and their associated risk factors among automobile maintenance workers. METHODS: A total of 539 respondents from 50 automotive repair and maintenance companies in China were selected to investigate the prevalence of WMSDs via the modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression models were applied to analyze their associated risk factors. RESULTS: The total prevalence of WMSDs among 539 workers was 32.8%. The top three body parts for prevalence were the lower back (17.1%), neck (16.3%), and shoulders (14.5%). The highest prevalence of WMSDs was found in the neck (23.6%) and lower back (14.3%) for sheet metal workers and mechanics, respectively, whereas painters had the highest prevalence of WMSDs in the lower back and feet (both at 15.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed that females were at higher risk of WMSDs than males (OR 5.027, [95% CI] [1.278–19.772], p < 0.05). Workers subjected to uncomfortable positions were at increased risk of WMSDs (OR 1.79, [95% CI] [1.333–2.410], p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of WMSDs is high among automotive maintenance workers, with the highest prevalence in the lower back (17.1%). Uncomfortable working postures and frequent repetitive movements with lower limbs and ankles at work may be important risk factors.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of wrist injuries in 15 industries and different types of work in China. Study on the associated factors of wrist injuries provides a scientific basis for prevention and treatment of wrist diseases in occupational workers.Methods: A cross-sectional study of musculoskeletal symptoms of related practitioners in 15 industries, including automobile manufacturing, was conducted to retrieve worker demographic information, working wrist posture, and pain conditions. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).Results: The prevalence of wrist injuries among the study population was 13.2%. Toy manufacturing, animal husbandry, automobile manufacturing, shoe manufacturing, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing had the highest wrist injury rates at 29.1, 19.1, 14.9, 14.9, and 14.0%, respectively. Among the types of jobs, enamel workers (63.0%), butchers (43.6%), combers (32.5%), welders (31.3%), and scaffolders (26.5%) had the highest prevalence rates. Based on the final multivariate logistic regression analysis: female [odds ratios (OR) = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15–1.35], 6–10 years of service (OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03–1.18), >10 years of service (OR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06–1.25), frequent upward and downward flexion in wrist posture at work (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.84–2.11), and frequent wrist placement on the edge of angular objects increased the OR of injury (OR = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.44–1.61). Need to squeeze objects tightly while working (OR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.57–1.89), prolonged wrist flexion (OR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.75–1.97), and work hand position above the shoulder for prolonged periods (OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04–1.19) also suggested the relationship between these factors and the higher prevalence of wrist injury in the workers. The associated factor was physical activity (OR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80–0.94).Conclusion: This study suggested the relationship between these factors and the higher prevalence of wrist injury in the toy manufacturing, animal husbandry, automobile manufacturing, and shoe-making industries, enamel workers, butchers, and combers. And are work types that require special attention. Females, working age, physical activity, and abnormal posture of the wrist were factors significantly associated with WMSDs.

Although studies have shown that work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common and continue to be a major source of disability and work time loss, there are few reports about elbow WMSDs. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and associated factors of elbow WMSDs. The valid questionnaires of 57501 workers from 15 different industries nationwide were collected and the c² test and logistic regression analysis were applied to reveal the prevalence and risk factors of elbow WMSDs. The findings indicated that the overall prevalence of elbow WMSDs among workers was 7.3%. However, the prevalence of elbow WMSDs in toy manufacturing was 21.3%, which was significantly higher than that in other industries (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age 40 and above, married, very poor health, left-handedness, lifting weights (more than 20 kg each time), work requiring upper limb or hand force, work in an uncomfortable position, repetitive operations within 1 minute, using vibrating tools, work involving cold, cool draughts, or temperature changes, work being completed in the same workshop, work being done outdoors, frequent dealings with customers, 2 shifts, often working overtime, staff shortage, and often working for colleagues were risk factors for elbow WMSDs. A higer education level, monthly income, and enough rest time were protective factors for elbow WMSDs. Toy manufacturing is a high-risk industry for elbow WMSDs. Promotion of education about ergonomics should be strengthened, and workers’ ergonomics awareness should be improved to reduce the impact of WMSDs.