Relations Between Occupational, Psychosocial and Individual Factors and Three Different Categories of Back Disorder Among Supermarket Workers

Overview

Journal Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2005 Jul 8

PMID 16001210

Citations 4

Authors

Francesco S Violante

Francesca Graziosi

Roberta Bonfiglioli

Stefania Curti

Stefano Mattioli

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Up-to-date store-wide studies regarding low back pain (LBP) among supermarket/hypermarket workers are lacking. We investigated 12-month store-wide prevalence of different categories of LBP and possible associated biomechanical, individual/psychosocial risk factors across a large supermarket/hypermarket chain.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 3,702 subjects working in a group of small/medium-sized supermarkets (n=100) and large hypermarkets (n=7) belonging to a single chain in central-northern Italy applying established ergonomics/job-satisfaction policies. Data regarding the various departments were collected by a medical check-list, physical examination and questionnaire-all conducted by qualified physicians--and were analyzed in relation to a comprehensive biomechanical risk analysis.

Results: The overall 12-month prevalence of LBP in our sample (with a 82% response rate) was 34.5% (36.6% for females and 30.7% for males), with few differences being found between supermarkets and hypermarkets. Different types of LBP showed significant associations with stress-related psychosomatic symptoms, but not with job satisfaction (which was high).

Conclusions: These encouraging data provide relevant information regarding workers operating in supermarkets/hypermarkets with an active commitment to ergonomic and job-satisfaction policies.

Citing Articles

Assessment of Load Manual Lifting among Shelf-Stoking Workers in Chain Stores: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Choobineh A, Dortaj E, Razeghi M, Ghaem H, Daneshmandi H Appl Bionics Biomech. 2024; 2024:2324416.

PMID: 39144397 PMC: 11324367. DOI: 10.1155/2024/2324416.

The Importance of Lifting Height and Load Mass for Muscular Workload during Supermarket Stocking: Cross-Sectional Field Study.

Skovlund S, Blafoss R, Skals S, Jakobsen M, Andersen L Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(5).

PMID: 35270722 PMC: 8910655. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19053030.

Technical field measurements of muscular workload during stocking activities in supermarkets: cross-sectional study.

Skovlund S, Blafoss R, Skals S, Jakobsen M, Andersen L Sci Rep. 2022; 12(1):934.

PMID: 35042941 PMC: 8766430. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04879-8.

Biomechanical, psychosocial and individual risk factors predicting low back functional impairment among furniture distribution employees.

Ferguson S, Allread W, Burr D, Heaney C, Marras W Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2011; 27(2):117-23.

PMID: 21955915 PMC: 3796440. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.09.002.

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