Ergonomic evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders risk by Quick Exposure Check (QEC) technique in a textile industry

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are occupational injuries that have high prevalence and are major causes of disability in industrialized and developing countries. The aim of this study was evaluate exposure of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors by quick exposure check (QEC) technique and determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in a textile industry. Methods and Materials: 44 male workers in Stretch department of Tehran textile industry that were selected through census method were participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (NMQ) and QEC (Quick Exposure Check) form. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 18. Results showed that the highest prevalence of MSDs in12-month past was in low back (47.9%) and then respectively in hand and wrist (27.8%), shoulder (22.9%) and neck (14.5%). The relationship between age and the prevalence of MSDs in neck and shoulder was significant (p<0.05). The relationship between BMI and MSDs in hand and wrist (p= 0.002) and low back (p= 0.04) was also significant. 80% of workers in this study in the low back, 89% in shoulder, 71% in the hand and wrist and 87.5% in the neck were at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. based on the findings, risk level and prevalence of WMSDs in workers in this study were high. The evaluation results obtained from QEC according to the scores obtained for the whole body indicated that corrective actions in high levels of actions - done promptly -for some jobs in this industry was necessary.