Work organization and work-related musculoskeletal disorders for sewing machine operators in garment industry

Purpose Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) have been reported to occur at high rates in sewing machine operators employed in the garment industry. Here we are examining the association between work organization and the risk of WRMDs for sewing machine operators. Methods We recruited 314 Hispanic and Chinese sewing machine operators from 12 garment shops in Los Angeles, California from 2003 to 2004. Data were collected through physical exams and standardized interviews. Cases are defined as workers reporting pain at least one day per week with a pain score higher than 2 out of 5 during a 1-month period. Symptoms were assessed by anatomical regions and are summarized here as pain in neck/shoulder, back/hips, upper or lower extremity. Results We found that pain symptoms were reported more often by workers who were paid via a piece rate adjusted for age, gender, and ethnicity (In neck/shoulders adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–4.8; in back/hips aOR = 2.54; 95%CI: 1.3–5.2; in upper extremity aOR = 2.94; 95%CI: 1.1–8.0; in lower extremity aOR = 2.69; 95%CI: 1.0–7.4), and who work on monotonous and repetitive work such as single machine users especially for pain in back/hips (aOR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.1–4.7). Low decision authority was associated with an increased risk of reporting pain in upper extremity (aOR = 2.87; 95%CI: 1.1–7.6) and back/hips (aOR = 2.31; 95%CI: 1.0–5.2). High psychological job demand was associated with an increased risk of reporting pain in upper extremity (aOR = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.0–4.1). An exposure-response trend was observed for physical exertion and pain in four body sections, and physical isometric loads above the mean increased neck/shoulders and lower extremity pain. Conclusion Our results suggest that work organizational factors are associated with an increased risk of reporting WRMDs in sewing machine operators.