Evaluating risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in assembly workers of Nishabur, Iran using rapid upper limb assessment

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common types of occupational injuries. They are also a major cause of workers’ disability. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the assembly workers of an electronic factory in Nishabur, Iran.

This descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 61 workers. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Working postures were also recorded by photography and observation and evaluated by the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA). The collected data was analyzed by SPSS18.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrist (33.0%), neck (21.3%), and waist (21.3%) was more than other parts of the body. The results of posture assessment in 32 groups of workers in the assembly saloon showed that 3.3% and 96.7% of the working postures needed first and second priority corrections, respectively. Weight and work history were significantly related with most disorders.

Considering the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in workers with short work experience, appropriate education and management are required to prevent the increased prevalence of these disorders in the future.