What are the risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)?
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are associated with these factors: • work postures and movements, • repetitiveness and pace of work, • force of movements, • vibration, and • temperature. Certain workplace conditions, for example, the layout of the workstation, the speed of work (especially in conveyor-driven jobs), and the weight of the objects being handled influence these factors. How are work postures and movements a risk for WMSDs? Any body position can cause discomfort and fatigue if it is maintained for long periods of time. Standing, for example, is a natural body posture, and by itself poses no particular health hazards. However, working for long periods in a standing position can cause sore feet, general muscular fatigue, and low back pain. In addition, improper layout of work areas, and certain tasks can make workers use unnatural standing positions. Figure 1 – Bending forward Figure 2 – Reaching above shoulder level Two aspects of body position can contribute
