Subjective Symptoms of Female Workers Sorting Goods in Summer

Abstract

Subjective musculoskeletal symptoms are more frequently complained about in cold store work and in related conditions than those experienced in normal temperature work. This cross sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of indoor cooling and cold storage goods on the prevalence of subjective symptoms in summer. Female workers sorting cold storage goods (exposed group) were the main subjects of this study (n=47). We also included a group of female workers engaged sorting dry goods as the unexposed to cold group (n=86). Work load for the two groups were estimated according to the recommended criteria. A selfadministered questionnaire covering age, occupational career, smoking, alcohol drinking and physical exercise, present or past history of diseases, individual protective measures against cold or heat, and subjective symptoms (60 items) was used. The air temperature of the site at the start of working time for the workers sorting cold storage goods was 22.2°C which was significantly lower than those measured for the other two work places (25.4°C and 25.4°C) of the unexposed to cold group. Environmental temperatures at the foot level at the sorting workshop of cold storage goods and dry goods were ca.16°C and 26°C all day, respectively. The surface temperatures of cold storage goods were between -2.8°C and 9.4°C. The surface temperature of dry goods was 26.5°C. Among the working characteristic items, only daily working hours in the exposed group (5.6 ± 0.6 h) were significantly longer than those in the unexposed to cold group (4.6 ± 0.9 h) (p<0.01). The prevalence rates of finger cold sensation, stiffness in the fingers, pain in the wrist, pain in the elbow, back dullness, back pain, low-back cold sensation, foot cold sensation and pain in the foot in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed to cold group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Pain in the fingers, numbness in the fingers, pain in the foot and foot numbness due to the cold in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the unexposed to cold group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). These results suggest that indoor cooling and/or job activities related to cold storage goods could, to some extent, affect peripheral circulatory disturbances; and it could be regarded as a factor related to musculoskeletal symptoms among the exposed workers.

Cold-related symptoms and performance degradation among Thai poultry industry workers with reference to vulnerable groups: a cross-sectional study

“…A previous Thai study [12] compared cold storage and office workers in the frozen food industry and found a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms among the cold storage workers but did not investigate performance degradation, thirst, and drying of the mouth. We are not aware of other studies comparing the latter symptoms between job categories, although the high prevalence of musculoskeletal, circulatory, and respiratory symptoms among cold workplace workers has been well documented [4,8,9,27,45]. While thirst and drying of the mouth suggest insufficient fluid intake and dehydration, they have not been previously described among cold workplace workers.…”

Relationship of Healthy Building Determinants With Back and Neck Pain: A Systematic Review

“…Overall, 37 articles reporting on 36 unique studies were deemed eligible and selected. 34-70 Some articles appeared to be relevant upon initial review, but were excluded because the independent effects of the nine healthy buildings determinants could not be concluded. 71-78

Figure 1.PRISMA flow diagram of search results.

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“…Back pain was addressed in 26 articles, 34,35,38-44,47,50,51,53-57,59-61,64,66-70 and neck pain was addressed in 22 articles. 36-38,40-46,48,49,52,53,56-58,61-63,65,68 The healthy building determinants addressed were: air quality (ventilation) (N = 10), 37,38,40,43,46,55,60,65,66,69 dust and pests (N = 2), 54,60 lighting and views (N = 10), 35,36,43,46-…”

“…Several articles did not report a funding source. The countries in which the study was conducted were: Australia (N = 3), 45,62,63 Australia and New Zealand (N = 1), 36 Belgium (N = 1), 37 Brazil (N = 1), 58 Canada (N = 1), 38 China (N = 3), 43,68,69 Colombia (N = 1), 53 Denmark (N = 1), 55 Egypt (N = 1), 52 Ethiopia (N = 2), 35,48 Finland (N = 5), 46,54,57,61,66 Germany (N = 1), 60 India (N = 2), 56,59 Israel (N = 1), 39 Japan (N = 3), 44,47,51 New Zealand (N = 1), 67 Nigeria (N = 1), 34 Norway (N = 4), 40,41,49,65 Pakistan (N = 1), 42 Portugal (N = 1), 70 Thailand (N = 2). 50,64 None of the articles described the racial and ethnic characteristics of the participants, or the specific effect of race and ethnicity on the relationship of healthy building determinants with back and neck pain.…”

Prevalence of Pain in Medical Representatives using Two-wheeler for Daily Commute

“…Thus, two-wheeler users are more prone for musculoskeletal pain and higher level of cumulative trauma. As the two groups were well matched, the factor we felt responsible for such a difference in pain scores is lack of chance to change posture during commute, lack of back support, recurrent active recruitment of muscles for balancing purpose and to handle the weight of the bike, and environmental stress factors, such as exposure to cold 8,9 or heat. 10 Our subjects were from an urban environment and riding in traffic conditions may be more stressful as compared with a rural or suburban environment.…”