Ergonomic risk factors and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Fireworks workers in West Bengal, India: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

AbstractFireworks industries are very old, unorganized cottage industries in West Bengal mainly confined in South 24 Parganas. The present investigation was intended to investigate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among the workers and to identify the causative factors behind it. In this present study, 152 male fireworks workers from different age groups and 100 control subjects were investigated. Modified Nordic questionnaires were used to identify the region-wise disorders. The Hand Grip strength of both groups was also estimated. Among the fireworks workers posture related musculoskeletal disorders were severely observed in the lower back which was aggravated with the advancement of age and working experience. Pain and stiffness were also reported in the neck, upper back, wrist, elbow, knee and ankle. A lower backrest with support at the lumber region is strongly recommended.