Work organization and musculoskeletal health: clinical findings from immigrant Latino poultry processing and other manual workers.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the potential role of differential exposure to work organization hazards in musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino workers.

METHOD

Self-reported work organization data were obtained from immigrant Latino workers in poultry processing and nonpoultry, manual occupations (N = 742). Clinical evaluations for epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and back pain were obtained from a subsample (n = 518).

RESULTS

Several work organization hazards (eg, low job control, high psychological demands) were elevated among poultry processing workers. Job control predicted epicondylitis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77) and rotator cuff syndrome (OR = 0.79); psychological demand predicted rotator cuff syndrome (OR = 1.30) and back pain (OR = 1.24); awkward posture and repeated movements predicted all three outcomes; and management safety commitment predicted rotator cuff syndrome (OR = 1.65) and back pain (OR = 1.81).

DISCUSSION

Immigrant poultry processing workers are exposed to greater work organization hazards that may contribute to occupational health disparities.