Iman Dianata, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Madeh Kord and Parvin Yahyazadeb, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences; Mohammad Ali Karimic, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch, Bushehr, Iran; and Alex W. Stedmond, Human Systems Integration Group, Faculty of Engineering & Computing, Coventry University, U.K.

This cross-sectional study evaluated working conditions and the occurrence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among 251 Iranian sewing-machine operators. A questionnaire and direct observations of working postures using the rapid-upper-limb-assessment (RULA) method were used. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly in the neck/shoulders, back and hands/wrists were found. The mean RULA grand score of 5.7 highlighted a poor sewing workstation design and indicated that most operators (with posture assessed at action level 3) needed an investigation and changes in their working habits soon. Work-related factors (including number of years worked as an operator, prolonged working hours per shift, long duration of sitting work without a break, feeling pressure due to work and working postures) and individual factors (including age, gender, BMI and regular sport/physical activities) were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in multiple logistic regression models. The findings add to the understanding of working conditions of those jobs involving sewing activities and emphasize the need for ergonomic interventions to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms in the future.

App Ergo, Volume 51, pages 180–188. Correspondence to: Iman Dianata, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; tel: +98 41 33357580; email: dianati@tbzmed.ac.ir.