Wang Ming-Hsu, Chen Yi-Lang, Chiou Wen-Ko
Center for General Education, Affiliated with College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Work. 2019;64(3):613-621. doi: 10.3233/WOR-193022.
Cleaning workers experience severe musculoskeletal symptoms.
The objective of this paper was to examine musculoskeletal symptoms in cleaners of different heights to evaluate the effects of height on working postures in the work environment (schools).
We used a three-stage method including using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms, a task analysis to confirm typical cleaning tasks, and the OVAKO Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS) for posture analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the adjusted effects of individual characteristics on painful body regions, using individuals without any pain as the reference category.
This study found that the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms is very high for cleaners, especially in the shoulders, elbows, and lower back. Odds ratios for the accumulation of two or more risk factors were higher among men and were inversely associated with national economic indicators. The relatively high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms may stem from the multiple operations involved in cleaning tasks, such as trash collecting, floor mopping, toilet cleaning, and mirror polishing. Workers of different heights had differential work loadings for different tasks.
This paper proposes recommendations for job adaptations and occupational safety training. Cleaners of different heights execute the typical tasks via different postures, and awkward postures often result in musculoskeletal symptoms. Cleaners should be provided with specific tools and training regarding working postures on the basis of height. These findings can be used as a reference for related operation designs and task improvements to ensure correct tool usage and safer working postures during cleaning.
清洁工人会出现严重的肌肉骨骼症状。
本文旨在研究不同身高的清洁工的肌肉骨骼症状，以评估身高对工作环境（学校）中工作姿势的影响。
我们采用了三阶段方法，包括使用北欧肌肉骨骼问卷（NMQ）评估肌肉骨骼症状、进行任务分析以确认典型清洁任务，以及使用OVAKO工作姿势评估系统（OWAS）进行姿势分析。以无任何疼痛的个体作为参照类别，进行多项逻辑回归以评估个体特征对疼痛身体部位的调整效应。
本研究发现，清洁工的肌肉骨骼症状患病率非常高，尤其是在肩部、肘部和下背部。男性出现两种或更多风险因素累积的优势比更高，且与国家经济指标呈负相关。肌肉骨骼症状的相对较高患病率可能源于清洁任务中涉及的多项操作，如垃圾收集、拖地、清洁厕所和擦拭镜子。不同身高的工人在不同任务中的工作量有所不同。
本文提出了工作适应性调整和职业安全培训的建议。不同身高的清洁工通过不同姿势执行典型任务，而别扭的姿势往往会导致肌肉骨骼症状。应根据身高为清洁工提供关于工作姿势的特定工具和培训。这些发现可为相关操作设计和任务改进提供参考，以确保清洁过程中工具的正确使用和更安全的工作姿势。
