Paper track 02

Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Tea Pluckers in Sylhet with a Proposed Ergonomic Basket Design

This article aims to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and also assess the risk factors among teapluckers at the Tarapur tea estate in Sylhet. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 183 workers using theStandardized Nordic Questionnaire to record symptoms in nine body regions associated with sociodemographicfactors, including age, height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), experience, and work fatigue. Pearson's chi-squaretests have been used to unveil the relationships between sociodemographic factors and body parts. A sample size of183 was calculated using the Slovin formula with a confidence interval (CI) of 95 percent. The results showed thatthe effect of musculoskeletal risk (MSDs) occurred mainly in the lower back, shoulders, and hands. However, age,height, weight, BMI, and fatigue at work demonstrated a strong correlation with musculoskeletal symptoms in severalregions of the body. This article helps tea workers who have involved in high repetitive tasks by designing anergonomic tool that can mitigate health-related issues and thus reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. (1) (PDF) Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Tea Pluckers in Sylhet with a Proposed Ergonomic Basket Design.