Prevalence of Risk Factors and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among the Study Participants Working at an Egyptian Oil and Gas Company

Abstract

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have a significant impact on the workplace and the implications have a serious impact on workers and organizations. WMSDs can result from various risk factors including biomechanical, environmental, organizational and psychological risk factors. It is hypothesized that risk factors can affect study participants’ body regions at different disciplines and can lead to chronic and acute pain. Aim of the study: To assess prevalence of biomechanical, environmental, organizational, psychological risk factors and associated WMSDs. Subjects & methods: The research was done through an analytical cross-sectional study on employees from different disciplines working at an Egyptian oil and gas company at Cairo office and site, the number of participants was 469 individuals, and the research tools included standard Nordic questionnaire and checklist for risk factors assessment. Results: The current study found that WMSDs pains complaints were most prevalent at lower back, neck, hand and one or both knees respectively and WMSDs complaints prevented employees from work were at lower back, hand, upper back, neck and knees. The most prevalent biomechanical risk was static posture, sit for periods of more than 30 minutes, perform task fast, environmental risk was in adequate lighting, inadequate heat, inadequate room to change position, organizational risk was inadequate schedule, work overtime and psychological factor was improper relationship with leaders, inadequate work deadline and un satisfaction with work at different disciplines. Conclusion: biomechanical, organizational, environmental and psychological were the risk factors for WMSDs prevalence among employees and are statistically significant.