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KMID : 0358520110230010001
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Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2011 Volume.23 No. 1 p.1 ~ p.8
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The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and the Ergonomic Risk Factors among Oriental Melon-growing Farmers
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Bae Kyu-Jeong
Lee Kyung-Suk
Kong Yong-Ku
Oh Gyung-Jae
Lee Soo-Jin
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Abstract
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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in oriental melon-growing farmers and to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors of melon cultivation.
Methods: The study included 217 subjects growing oriental melons mainly in 3 villages. Subjects were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. Instruments used the general features and symptom table of NIOSH to evaluate tasks using ergonomic tools (REBA, OWAS).
Results: A total of 202 final respondents answered. The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms based on the NIOSH standard criteria was 162 (75.2%). The prevalence per body part for lower back, knee and shoulder were 102 (50.5%), 86 (42.6%) and 71 (35.1%), respectively. The prevalence of pain complaints of the musculoskeletal symptom was 91 (45.0%). The prevalence of complaints per body part of lower back, knee and shoulder were 54 (26.7%), 41 (20.3%) and 37 (18.3%), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed men were at higher risk compared to women (OR=2.409, 95% CI=1.071~5.389), and ore than 30 years of work having a higher risk compared to less than 30 years of work (OR=2.445, 95% CI=1.150~5.197). High risk tasks were moving around boxes and nursery plants for planting, transplanting nursery plants, and picking melons.
Conclusions: Musculoskeletal symptoms were very highly prevalent in oriental melon-growing farmers, showing up in 75.2% of cases. They were exposed to ergonomic high risk factors such as squatting. These risk factors must be improved in some way.
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KEYWORD
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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, Ergonomic risk factors, Oriental melons, Farmers
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