Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries and disability in industrialized and developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to conduct posture assessment among workers of Yazd Electrode Company. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among 59 production line workers of Yazd Electrode Company in 2014. The prevalence rate of MSDs was assessed by Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ). The workers' posture status was also assessed through quick exposure check (QEC). Data were then analyzed by SPSS 22. Results:According to NMQ results, 86.4 % of participants experienced MSDs at least in one of their nine body regions during the last year. The highest prevalence rates of MSDs were observed in lower back (74.6%), neck (71.2%), and shoulder (59.3%), respectively. The results of body posture assessment through QEC method also indicated that in 59.3% of cases, the risk level of disorders is very high. Conclusion:The results of this study showed that the prevalence rate of MSDs among workers was high. The main ergonomic problems included having awkward posture, lifting and manual handling of loads, as well as bending and twisting of lower back. Moreover, the findings further indicated that the QEC method can provide reliable results to determine the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

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