Investigation into the Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevalence and Postural Assessment among Barbers in Sari-2016

Background and purpose: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders usually entangle back spines, neck and upper limbs. Working as a barber paves the ground for probable high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. This study was designed to evaluate the working postures of sari male barbers by Rapid Entire Body Assessment method and determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders using NORDIC questionnaire. In the present research, 108 Sari barbers working conditions were evaluated using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool, and the data on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was collected using Nordic questionnaire. Microsoft Excel and SPSS were then applied to analyze the data. Quantitative variables were analyzed using the descriptive statistical methods including mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test and ordinal regression have also been applied to analyze the relationship between different variables and musculoskeletal disorders' prevalence. The mean age the participants was 33.11±8.2 and the mean of work experience was 12±3.7 years. According to the results of the Nordic questionnaire, during 12 past months, 78% of the studied subjects have discovered pain and discomfort at least in one of their 9 body regions. Complaints of musculoskeletal pains in the wrist were also most prevalent (72.1%), followed by the neck (49%) and elbow pains (46.2%). Through REBA Method, the highest frequency of corrective measures was at level 2 (73.9%). The results of the present study indicated that the evaluated subjects working postures required correction. Also, it was found essential to train barbers in what way to identify the biomechanical and ergonomic risk factors and correct working postures.