MUSCULOSKELETAL PROBLEMS IN IRANIAN HAND-WOVEN CARPET INDUSTRY IN IRAN

Carpet weaving is a high risk occupation for developing MSDs, as awkward working postures, repetitive movements, contact stress and long working time are common. The objectives of the present study, which was carried out at the Iranian hand-woven carpet industry, were determination of MSDs symptoms prevalence, workstation and working posture assessment, identification of major factors associated with MSDs symptoms in different body regions and developing guidelines for workstation design. In this study, 1439 randomly selected weavers from 9 Iranian provinces have participated. Data on personal details, workshop characteristics and MSDs symptoms was collected by questionnaire. Posture and workstation assessment were performed by observational technique. The results revealed that musculoskeletal symptoms prevalence rates in shoulders (47.8%), lower back (45.2%), wrists (38.2%), upper back (37.7%), neck (35.2%) and knees (34.6%) were high as compared to general Iranian population (for neck, back and large joints p<0.0001). Working postures were found to be deviated form neutral. Lack of proper seat, leg clearance, adjustment mechanisms, together with incorrect weaving height made weavers worked in constrained, harmful postures. The results were subjected to multivariate analyses in order to find the major factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Several such factors were identified for symptoms of each body regions. Identified ergonomic factors were loom type, working posture, daily working time, seat type and type of knots. Based on the results, some general guidelines for weaving workstation design were developed. The prototype test showed that the new workstation was acceptable to subject tests and improved working posture.