Sewing-machine operators' work and musculo-skeletal complaints

Abstract

The possible occupational origin of the high occurrence of musculoskeletal (rheumatic) complaints among sewing-machine operators was studied. The subjects were chosen by random sampling and comprised 40 sewing-machine operators with short work cycles (30-60 s) and 20 seamstresses as the reference group. The 2 groups were matched with respect to age and length of service. A survey of working postures showed that the sewing-machine operators'' work was more static. Musculoskeletal complaints occurred more frequently among the sewing-machine operators, especially in the neck and shoulders (P < 0.001) and the lower limbs (P < 0.01). The occupational change from seamstresses'' work to sewing-machine operators'' work may be associated with an increase in the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints.