Postural Assessment and Risk Evaluation of Workers among Selected Textile Industries in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Textile industry workers specifically Nigerians often encounter health challenges associated with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) stemming from factors like uncomfortable postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged sitting or standing, and inadequate workplace design. This study evaluated the risk level of workers associated with working postures for selected textile industries in Lagos, Nigeria. Five textile manufacturing companies were randomly selected in Lagos State. Standard nordic questionnaires were administered to workers to assess their demography and musculoskeletal issues such as fatigue, stress, back pain, headache, and dissatisfaction. The working postures (neck, trunk, leg, upper arm, lower arm, and wrist positions) of the selected workers were obtained from the pictures captured during engagements on different factory operations. These positions were used to obtain Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scores and the associated risk levels utilizing the REBA Employee Assessment Worksheet. Based on WRMSDs, the data revealed that 88% of workers suffer from fatigue, 45% experience stress, 73% report back pain, 75% suffer from headaches, and 34% of workers are dissatisfied with their working environment. Analysis of the workers' physical environment showed that 55% are exposed to excessive heat, 71% are subjected to noise and dust, and nearly half (48%) are involved in manual materials handling. A large number of workers in the five selected textile manufacturing industries face significant risks of musculoskeletal disorders.