|
 |
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
|
|
|
| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 24
| Issue : 3 | Page : 183-187 |
| |
Low Back Pain (LBP) incidence, ergonomics risk and workers’ characteristics in relations to lbp in electronics assembly manufacturing
Sunisa Chaiklieng1, Pornnapa Suggaravetsiri2
1 Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| Date of Submission | 03-Jan-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 24-Mar-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 14-Apr-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 14-Dec-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Sunisa Chaiklieng
Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen-40002
Thailand
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_4_20
Aims: Electronics industry workers might have increased the risk of low back pain (LPB). This cohort study aimed to investigate LBP incidence and provide a baseline of ergonomic factors and workers’ characteristics associated with LBP. Methods: A six-month monitoring phase was designed using 196 electronic workers to identify LBP incidence. Baseline data were collected for ergonomic risk by RULA and lighting intensity measurement. Personal factors and work stress were surveyed by job content questionnaires (JCQ). Results: Ergonomic risk related to sitting posture was indicated at inspection with lamp (66.7%; change needed). High risk was shown among standing workers at punching and E-check processes. The lighting intensity did not meet the recommended standard in the arm range zone 2 of inspection and E-check stations. Dissatisfaction was reported due to work stress, workload, work rhythm, and job control. The six-month LBP incidence was 52.5%. Work experience less than three years (RR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.031.90) and chronic diseases (RR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.091.82) were significantly correlated with LBP incidence. Conclusions: Ergonomic and lighting conditions at E-check and inspection should be improved, and the promotion of short break exercise during shiftwork period is suggested. LBP should be closely surveilled in workers who had less job experience and underlying diseases.
Keywords: Cohort study, inspection, lighting, RULA, work stress
How to cite this article:
Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P. Low Back Pain (LBP) incidence, ergonomics risk and workers’ characteristics in relations to lbp in electronics assembly manufacturing. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2020;24:183-7 |
How to cite this URL:
Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P. Low Back Pain (LBP) incidence, ergonomics risk and workers’ characteristics in relations to lbp in electronics assembly manufacturing. Indian J Occup Environ Med [serial online] 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 19];24:183-7. Available from: https://www.ijoem.com/text.asp?2020/24/3/183/302824 |
| Introduction | |  |
Low back pain (LBP) is among the most commonly reported health problems in working populations in Thailand.[1] Recent research among workers in one electronics industry in Thailand, showed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) including lower back pain. The highest severity of pain was reported in the following three anatomical areas, i.e. lower back, upper back, and shoulder.[2] This previous study already suggested the prevalence and correlated risk factors for some areas such as shoulder pain were due to the repetitive nature of their work and ergonomic risk conditions.[3] However, there is still no report from a cohort study to identify the incidence of MSDs including low back pain, a chronic symptom among electronic workers.
Electronic workers hold static postures by the nature of their work involving prolonged sitting or standing with repetitive upper limb movement.[4] These work characteristics might induce LBP in the long term as in a previous report among office workers.[5] LBP impacts on health, and can also affect efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity due to work absence.[6] There are various possible risk factors for LBP including individual factors such as age, gender,[7] ergonomic factors such as prolonged sitting and prolonged standing,[8] exposure to working environment factors such as lighting, and seats or station level, and physical factors such as lifting, high workloads, and repetitive tasks.[3],[6],[7],[8] In addition, psychosocial factors such as co-worker, leader or manager relationships, or work stress, have been reported as risk factors of LBP.[9] According to Thai Labor Regulations,[10] the lighting condition should be also controlled. This study aimed to determine the incidence rate of low back pain among electronic workers. Workers’ characteristics and ergonomics risk were analyzed for their association with LBP among electronic workers.
| Methods | | |
Participants
The prospective cohort group participants were selected from 354 electronic workers in a large electronic assembly manufacturing located in Northeast Thailand. The study was carried out between February and October 2016. The sample size calculation for estimating LBP for the cohort study was based on a hypothesis of relative risk (RR ≠ 1).[11] To test the value of the LBP incidence based on the previous finding of sitting posture workers (83.0%)[5] with a 5% level of significance with a power of 90%, the proportion of non-seated workers to have low back pain at 50%. The minimum sample size requirement was 60 workers per group for standing and sitting. To allow for participant withdrawal and dropout during follow-up, the required sample size was increased by 30% to a total of 156 workers for the cohort group. The participants were screened for no current LBP. Inclusion eligibility was they were full-time employees for work in the next year. Participants were excluded if they had an episode of LBP care or pregnant. The final number was 101 sitting workers of inspection process who used a microscope and a lamp, and 95 standing workers in the assembly line of small items for electronic circuit board of household appliances, i.e. rice cookers and computers.
| Data Collection | | |
Baseline measures and screening data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire previously used by Chaiklieng et al.[3] The questionnaire collected baseline factors in three parts. Part 1 inquired about personal factors such as gender, age, marital status, job position, work experience, Body Mass Index (BMI) based on the obesity measure for Thai people (BMI >25),[3] ordinary exercise (at least 30 min once and 3 times a week), and chronic diseases (open questions). Part 2 inquired about work characteristics such as working posture, work experience at the current task, appropriateness of workstation, repetitive work. Part 3 focused on work stress questions based on 12 items from the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ)[12] with a 5-point Likert scale (very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied, and very dissatisfied) with responses categorized into appearing satisfied (very satisfied, satisfied, neutral) or dissatisfied (dissatisfied and very dissatisfied). The details of 12 items relating to aspects of job contents in demand including working time, work hard, workload, and work rhythm. JCQ was also related to job control over their work situation and decision authority to participate in decisions about their work, as shown in [Table 1].
Ergonomic risk factor assessment was performed using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) to measure, repetitive movement, force, awkward posture to neck, body, shoulder, arm, hand, wrist, leg, and foot. Total scores were used to classify participants into four risk levels; 1: score 1-2 (acceptable posture), 2: score 3-4 (low risk and further investigation and change may be needed), 3: score 56 (moderate risk, change needed soon), and 4: score 7 (high risk, change needed immediately).[13]
Workstation lighting intensities were measured by using a light meter 407026 (Extech; Serial No. Q431675), and readings were compared with the Thai Labor regulations.[10] When the lighting intensity was higher than 1,000 lux at the inspection or E-checking task, further measurements were considered for focusing point and three zones determination methods. The standard lighting intensity of three zones would be compared to each zone monitoring; when focusing point zone 1 >1,000 lux to <2,000 lux; inner arm-range zone 2 ≥300 lux, outer arm-range zone 3 ≥200 lux; when focusing point ≥2,000–5,000 lux, zone 2 ≥600 and zone 3 ≥300 lux. In case that zone 1 was ≥5,000 lux, zone 2 and zone 3 were ≥1,000 and ≥400 lux.
Cohort participants were followed-up for 6 months by a modified follow-up procedure:[5] every 2 weeks each subject was contacted and asked about any low back pain lasting >24 h during the past fortnight. If the subject reported any onset of LBP, additional information was requested regarding the date of the onset, and he/she continued to be followed up for a further fortnight period for accounting of new cases.
Data analysis
Data were double entry recorded in Epi-info for Windows (Texas, USA, 2007) and the analysis was performed using STATA (version 10.1). LBP monthly incidence was estimated from the 1st month to the 6th month follow-up and accumulated incidence of LBP was calculated for the period of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months LBP incidence ((number of LBP new cases in the period × 100)/196). Correlations between LBP and studied factors were analyzed by simple logistic regression analysis.Statistical significance was set to P value <0.05 for relative risk (RR) at 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Ethics review
The study received ethical approval from the Khon Kaen University Ethics Committee in Human Research, Khon Kaen University (HE582213). The approval from the ethics committee was obtained on 1 September 2015.
| Results | | |
Personal factors and work stress of the cohort group
Most (88.3%) of the 196 electronic workers were female with a mean age of 26.5 ± 5.0 years, and 54.1% were single. In total 90% of the workers were operators. The highest percentage of workers (74.0%) had 1–5 years work experience with the mean being 3.7 ± 3.6 years (min, max: 1, 14). According to the Thai standard for assessing BMI, 11.7% of these workers were classified as obese (>25.0), 55.1% were in the normal range (18.5–23.0). Most of the workers reported no regular exercise (84.7%) and the majority had no chronic diseases (72.5%). Almost all these workers were undertaking repetitive work (97.5%) with sitting posture (55.0%) and standing posture (46.6%) being common.
In regard to work stress, most electronic workers (>50.0%), reported being dissatisfied about job demand in all items. The particularly concerning items (>70.0%) were not enough working time to complete the job, excessive workload, and work speed. Stress related to dissatisfaction over control and decision making on their specific jobs was reported. This particularly concerning items (>70.0%) were dissatisfaction over opportunities to learn new things (82.6%), lot to say (70.9%), lack of decision freedom (73.5%) [see [Table 1]].
Ergonomic risk
All 196 electronic workers were either sitting (101 workers) or standing (95 workers) during their work. Most of those who were sitting (61.4%) were rated as medium ergonomic risk with change needed, particularly in the inspection stations with lamps. High risk standing workers were in the E-check process (80.0%) and in the Punch process [see [Table 2]].
This study found insufficient lighting in the arm range zone 2 (min–max) of the E-check and Inspection stations. The discomfort condition had occurred as a contrast of lighting intensity when the focusing point zone 1 was >1,000 lux for inspection and E-checking stations, and the arm range zone 2 was lower than the zone standard [see [Table 3] and [Table 4]]. | Table 3: Lighting intensity and the standard at the main or focusing point zone 1 of workstation
Click here to view |
 | Table 4: Lighting intensity (min-max) and the standard at the arm range zone 2 of E-check and Inspection station
Click here to view |
LBP incidence and risk factors
The incidence of LBP was highest at the 3rd month follow-up (18.7%). The 6 month LBP incidence was 52.5%, as shown in [Table 5]. There was no significant difference in LBP incidence rates between sitting posture (54.5%) and standing workers (50.5%).
The univariate analysis of personal factors and work characteristics in correlation with LBP are shown in [Table 6]. Work experience <3 years and having a chronic disease factors reached statistical significance.
| Discussion | | |
The present study found the 6-month incidence of LBP among electronic workers was 52.5%. The highest rate was found in the 3rd month follow-up. This rate, however, was lower compared to office workers in Thailand (64.8%).[5] However, it was twice as high as the rate reported among informal garment workers (22.7%).[8] The explanation might be that characteristics of electronic manufacturing work involves monotonous multi-task work with prolonged sitting or standing, and repetitive movement of upper limbs under machine rhythm.[4] While some workers had manual handling of materials to input into the machine,[4] risk assessment by RULA indicated that high risk needed immediate change in standing workers. The prolonged and static posture and repetitive tasks contributed to LBP.[8] Moreover, a previous study on automotive industry assembly line workers also showed that higher physical work and awkward posture correlated with LBP.[14] Lighting conditions at E-check station and inspection with lamps or microscopes did not meet the requirement level of the arm range zone 2 when the focusing point of zone 1 was higher than 1,000 lux.[10] Those contrast conditionsmight involve the discomfort, and subsequently impact on the neck, shoulders, and back pain that occur as the previous report.[15]
This study showed that underlying disease and less work experience than 3 years were associated with LBP, confirming an earlier report of school teachers.[16] Work experience of <3 years was related to a significantly higher risk of LBP, maybe related to being less accustomed to workload and repetitive movementwhich associated with shoulder pain among electronic workers.[5] The majority of workers were dissatisfied with job demands and control of work, which would impact on work stress related to the severity of low back pain as a previous report.[3]
| Conclusion | | |
This paper provided a baseline measurement of lighting intensity, work stress, and ergonomics risk before investigating a prospective cohort for the incidence of LBP. The results provided an indication of health hazards from unacceptable posture risk and contrast of lighting between the high intensity at focusing point zone 1 and the lower intensity than the standard level at arm range zone 2 of E-check or inspection station. LBP incidence among electronic workers was 52.5% at the 6 months follow-up, though with no significant difference between workers predominantly sitting and standing. Less work experience and having chronic diseases were significantly correlated with LBP development. In order to assist in reducing and preventing LBP in this occupation group, steps should be taken to provide working conditions that support good work posture and meet the lighting requirements. These changes may be particularly valuable for workers in the first 3 years of working in this kind of industrial process.
Financial support and sponsorship
National Research Council of Thailand (580064).
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | |
| 2. | Duangprom N, Chaiklieng S. Recognition of musculoskeletal disorders among workers of the electronic industry in Udon Thani province. Asia Pacific J Sci Tech 2013;18:880-91.  |
| 3. | Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P, Poochada W. Risk factor related to shoulder pain among assembly electronic assembly workers. J Med Tech Phy Ther 2018;30:146-58. |
| 4. | Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P. Ergonomics risk assessment of electronic assembly workers in the industry. J Med Tech Phy Ther 2019;31:150-61. |
| 5. | Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P, Stewart J. Incidence of low back pain in relation to sedentary workstation design and anthropometric assessment. In: Rebelo et al., editors. Advance in ergonomics in design, usability and special populations part II, Section 25. Proceeding of the 5 th AHFE conference 2014; 19-23 July, Krakow, Poland: CRC Press; 2014.pp. 630-7. |
| 6. | Waterman B, Belmont Jr P, Schoenfeld A. Low back pain in the United State: Incidence and risk factors for presentation in the emergency setting. Spine 2012;12:63-70. |
| 7. | Widanarko B, Legg S, Stevenson M, Devereux J, Eng A, Mannetje A, et al. Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to gender, age, and occupational/industrial group. Inter J Ind Ergon 2011;41:561-72. |
| 8. | Chaiklieng S, Homsombat T. Incidence and postural risk factors for low back pain among informal garment female workers. AISC 2020;967:222-30. |
| 9. | Govindu NK, Reeves K. Effects of personal, psychosocial and occupational factors on low back pain severity in workers. Int J Ind Ergon 2014;44:335-41. |
| 10. | Ministry of Labor. Ministerial regulation on the standard for lighting, B.E. 2561 (A.D. 2018). Royal Thai Government Gazette 2018;135:15, announced on 21 Feb 2018 |
| 11. | Lwanga SK, Lemeshow S. Sample size determination in health studies: A practical manual. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1991. |
| 12. | Karasek R, Brisson C, Kawakami N, Houtman I, Bongers P, Amick B. The job content questionnaire (JCQ): An instrument for internationally comparative assessments of psychosocial job characteristics. J Occup Health Psychol 1998;3:322-55. |
| 13. | McAtamney L, Corlett EN. RULA: Survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Appl Ergon 1993;24:403-25. |
| 14. | Anita AR, Yazdani A, Hayati KS, Adon MY. Association between awkward posture and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among assembly line workers in an automotive industry. Malays J Med Health Sci2014;10:23-8. |
| 15. | Chutiwatpongstorn S, Chaiklieng S. Ergonomics risk assessment and ergonomic factors among computer users in Tambon health promoting hospital, Nongkhai province. KKU J Public Health Res 2015;8:64-72. |
| 16. | Chaiklieng S, Suggaravetsiri P. Risk factors for repetitive strain injuries among school teachers in Thailand. Work2012;41:2510-5. |
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6]
|
