Schierhout G H, Meyers J E, Bridger R S
Community Health Department, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa.
Occup Environ Med. 1995 Jan;52(1):46-50. doi: 10.1136/oem.52.1.46.
The main objective of this study was to investigate exposure-response relations between adverse musculoskeletal outcomes and ergonomic exposure variables.
A cross sectional analytical study was conducted in 11 factories from seven sectors of manufacturing industry in South Africa. Exposure to workplace ergonomic stressors was assessed in factory floor jobs (n = 46) with a simple low technology observational model. Repetition, force, static posture, dynamic movement, and other job exposures were measured. Data of adverse musculoskeletal outcome and data on potential confounders and effect modifiers were obtained from subjects (n = 401) randomly sampled from each job category with a questionnaire given by interviewers.
High prevalences of regional musculoskeletal pain were found with substantial variability between industries. Sex was the only individual risk factor (after adjustment for potential confounders and effect modifiers) that was significantly associated with regional pain. Ergonomic exposures in the workplace were significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain of the neck and shoulders odds ratio (OR) 5.38 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.16 to 25.0) for repetition, and OR 3.91 (95% CI 1.11 to 13.7) for seated compared with standing work; pain of the wrists and hands OR 10.2 (95% CI 1.39 to 75.6) for high summed score of dynamic postures of the wrist).
This study indicates good predictive ability to reduce ergonomic stress with the exposure model, simple surveillance methods, and educational programmes in the workplace. Further study on sampling strategies and refinement of dimensions of ergonomic stressors are needed.
本研究的主要目的是调查不良肌肉骨骼结局与人体工程学暴露变量之间的暴露-反应关系。
在南非制造业七个部门的11家工厂中进行了一项横断面分析研究。采用简单的低技术观察模型，对工厂车间工作（n = 46）中的工作场所人体工程学压力源暴露情况进行评估。测量了重复性、力量、静态姿势、动态动作及其他工作暴露情况。通过访谈者发放问卷，从每个工作类别中随机抽取受试者（n = 401），获取不良肌肉骨骼结局的数据以及潜在混杂因素和效应修饰因素的数据。
发现各行业间区域肌肉骨骼疼痛的患病率较高且差异较大。性别是唯一（在对潜在混杂因素和效应修饰因素进行调整后）与区域疼痛显著相关的个体风险因素。工作场所的人体工程学暴露与颈部和肩部的肌肉骨骼疼痛显著相关：重复性工作的优势比（OR）为5.38（95%置信区间（95%CI）为1.16至25.0），坐姿工作与站姿工作相比的OR为3.91（95%CI为1.11至13.7）；手腕和手部疼痛方面，手腕动态姿势总分较高时的OR为10.2（95%CI为1.39至75.6）。
本研究表明，通过暴露模型、简单的监测方法和工作场所的教育计划，在降低人体工程学压力方面具有良好的预测能力。需要进一步研究抽样策略以及完善人体工程学压力源维度。
