School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT Chennai, India.
Multidisciplinary Centre for Automation, School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT Chennai, India.
Work. 2020;66(1):73-84. doi: 10.3233/WOR-203152.
Work-related health problems result in an economic loss of 4-6% in GDP (Gross domestic Product) of the most countries. In the industrialized countries, 1/3rd of the health-related absence to duty are due to musculoskeletal disorders. Professional driving is one such occupation which looks like sedentary occupation, but involves many risk factors that contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) due to its nature of working and work environment. This research describes the various risk factors associated with WMSDs and their effects on drivers health.
To assess the prevalence of WMSD and its associated risk factors among the bus drivers of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Karnataka.
Subjects considered in this study are 301 full-time bus drivers from the central division KSRTC which consists of 6 depots in Bengaluru. Information regarding reported WMSD symptoms during immediate past 7 days to 12 months, the intervention of WMSD in their day-to-day life and the overall comfort of the body are determined through Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and also by direct observation. The survey questionnaire is conducted by face to face interview.
From the statistical analysis, it is found that around 55.8% of the study population has experienced WMSD. The prevalence of WMSD is most common in the age group of 29-39 years (53.5%) followed by the age group of >40 years.
In this study, some of the work-related and lifestyle/health-related factors show significant association with WMSD in bus drivers of Karnataka. Musculoskeletal disorders can be prevented by designing the driver's workspace ergonomically so that the design suits to all sorts of drivers and the drivers should also be trained on basics of vehicle ergonomics (posture, seat adjustments, in-vehicle controls adjustments).
KSRTC should educate drivers on the basics of vehicle ergonomics, harmful use of tobacco/alcohol, unhealthy food habits and also to involve in physical exercise at least 75-150 mins weekly. If not, the trend of drivers suffering from WMSD belonging to mid-age will increase exponentially.
Statistical result and direct observation insist on undertaking further studies on ergonomic interventions at driver's cabin, lifestyle/occupational health factors which mitigate WMSD in different parts of the body during driving.
与工作相关的健康问题导致大多数国家国内生产总值（GDP）损失 4-6%。在工业化国家，1/3 的与健康相关的缺勤是由于肌肉骨骼紊乱。职业驾驶就是这样一种职业，看起来像久坐的职业，但由于其工作性质和工作环境，涉及许多导致与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病（WMSD）的危险因素。本研究描述了与 WMSD 相关的各种危险因素及其对驾驶员健康的影响。
评估卡纳塔克邦州立公路运输公司（KSRTC）巴士司机中 WMSD 的患病率及其相关危险因素。
本研究考虑的对象是来自班加罗尔的 6 个分部的中央分部 KSRTC 的 301 名全职巴士司机。通过标准化北欧问卷以及直接观察，确定了过去 7 天至 12 个月期间报告的 WMSD 症状、WMSD 对他们日常生活的干预以及身体整体舒适度等方面的信息。调查问卷调查通过面对面访谈进行。
从统计分析中发现，约有 55.8%的研究人群经历过 WMSD。WMSD 的患病率在 29-39 岁年龄组（53.5%）最为常见，其次是>40 岁年龄组。
在这项研究中，一些与工作相关的和生活方式/健康相关的因素与卡纳塔克邦巴士司机的 WMSD 有显著关联。通过对驾驶员工作空间进行人体工程学设计，可以预防肌肉骨骼疾病，使设计适合各种驾驶员，并且还应培训驾驶员基本的车辆人体工程学（姿势、座椅调整、车内控制调整）。
KSRTC 应教育驾驶员基本的车辆人体工程学、烟草/酒精的有害使用、不健康的饮食习惯以及每周至少进行 75-150 分钟的体育锻炼。否则，中年司机患 WMSD 的趋势将呈指数级增长。
统计结果和直接观察坚持进行进一步研究，以研究驾驶员驾驶时对不同身体部位的 WMSD 具有缓解作用的驾驶舱人体工程学干预措施和生活方式/职业健康因素。
