Musculoskeletal Disorders among Long-standing Workers Working for More Than 6-Hours a Day in an Automobile Factory in South India.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a prevalent occupational health concern, especially among long-term automobile factory workers. They can affect anyone and negatively impact quality of life and work performance. Major risk factors include heavy lifting and poor working conditions, which can worsen these disorders and pose serious health and labor rights issues.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at UNITECH PLASTO Components Pvt. Ltd. to evaluate MSDs among workers employed for over a year. Ergonomic risks were assessed using the Standard Nordic Questionnaire, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) were used to evaluate workplace ergonomics. Data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel, with results presented in percentages and odds ratio to determine the risk levels.

Results: The overall prevalence of MSDs was 63.7%, affecting various body parts: the highest observed in lower back (37 workers, 29.6%), shoulder (22 workers, 17.6%), wrist (20 workers, 16.0%), ankle (18 workers, 14.4%), neck (16 workers, 12.8%), hand (13 workers, 10.4%), elbow (12 workers, 9.6%), and knee (12 workers, 9.6%). REBA ergonomic assessments revealed medium risk in 88 (44.9%) workers, high risk in 81 (41.4%) workers, and very high risk in 18 (9.1%) workers. RULA assessments showed medium risk in 83 (42.3%) workers and very high risk in 14 (7.2%) workers. Workers with travel history and working in standing position and working of more than 8 h had more MSDs.

Conclusion: Implementing measures to reduce work-related physical strain and fostering a supportive work environment can yield significant improvements in employee health and productivity.