Study of the prevalence and influencing factors of WMSDs among automotive maintenance workers in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND China remains the world’s largest automotive manufacturing country. The work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a common occupational hazard associated with heavy industries. 76.2%-91.4% of vehicle maintenance workersuffers from WMSDs, among them, automotive maintenance workers have a higher risk of WMSDs due to some uncomfortable working postures and unreasonable work schedules.Furthermore, the prevalence of multi-site WMSDs is higher than that of single-site WMSDs in automotive workers. The available data (descriptive, etiological and prognostic data) largely focuses on the WMSDs defined by anatomical sites, and the research on multi-site WMSDs is particularlysparse. OBJECTIVES To explore the regularity and influencing factors of WMSDs in automotive maintenance workers. METHODS Through cluster sampling, 539 workers from 50 automotive repair and maintenance companies in China were recruited. The prevalence of WMSDs in the main anatomical sites was investigated using the modified Nordic MusculoskeletalDisorders Questionnaire (NMQ). The chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to analyze the associated risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Multisite WMSDs are more prevalent than single-site WMSDs among automotive maintenance workers, and two sites are most commonly affected. The influencing factors include demographic characteristics,such as gender, working age, certain types of movements and postures (working in uncomfortable positions, repetitive movements of the lower limbs and ankles), regular overtime, back to work after a break, and number of breaks per shift.