Association between Whole-Body Vibration exposure and musculoskeletal disorders among dumper operators: A case-control study in Indian iron ore mines

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Upadhyay, Rahul^a | Bhattacherjee, Ashis^{a; *} | Patra, Aditya Kumar^a | Chau, Nearkasen^{b; c}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India | [b] National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm), Paris, France | [c] University Paris-Sud and University Paris Descartes, Paris, France

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Prof. Ashis Bhattacherjee, Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India. Tel.: +91 9434009614; Fax: +91 3222 282282; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Dumper operators in mines worldwide are subjected to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) due to whole-body vibration exposure. This study evaluated the working-life-Whole-Body Vibration (WBV)-exposure and their association with various MSDs among dumper operators in mines which remains poorly addressed. METHODS:This case-control study in Indian iron ore mines was conducted to compare randomly selected 65 dumper operators and 65 office workers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and were analysed using logistic regression models. RESULTS:The study revealed that majority of the dumper operators were exposed to WBV exceeding the ISO-2631 limits. Compared with controls, the dumper operators had a much higher risk of upper back pain (age-overweight-adjusted odds ratio ORao = 5.37, 95% CI = 1.78–16.20), lower back pain (ORao = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.25–5.94), knee and leg pain (ORao = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.22–11.11), and having 2+ MSDs (ORao = 5.05, 95% CI = 1.88–13.51, vs. no MSDs). Working-life-WBV-exposure was higher among dumper operators having upper back pain (mean (SD) = 7.1 (1.91) vs. 5.7 (1.91), p < 0.01) and lower back pain (mean (SD) = 6.63 (2.10) vs. 5.55 (1.71), p < 0.01) compared to those without these MSDs. Older age was associated with higher risk of MSD pains. CONCLUSION:Dumper operators have excess MSDs due to high working-life-WBV-exposure. Their MSDs and working-life-WBV-exposure should be regularly evaluated and reduced.

Keywords: Working-life-WBV-exposure, surface mining, health hazard, logistic regression model, lower back pain

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205140

Journal: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 235-247, 2022