Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders according to age category and seniority in the job among Algerian consturction workers

Abstract

This study aimed to survey  the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that appear according to the variables of age category and seniority  at work among construction workers. The study was conducted on a sample of 126 workers distributed to 53 bricklayers and 73 bricklayers’ assistants, of a private foundation for construction. In order to find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, we applied the Questionnaire of the Institute of Research in Health and Work Safety (IRSST).

The  study results showed that 85% of workers belonging to the age category [31-35]  suffer from pain in the  lower back and 84% of the category [41-45] suffer from pain  in the shoulder and 92,3 %  in the right wrist. Whereas,  81% of workers in the category of [6-9] years of seniority at work showed their suffering in the lower back, and 49% of the same category suffered from pain at the level of the shoulders.

The study concluded that the suffering is related to the nature of the tasks performed under inappropriate working conditions. The study also recommended the need for a short-term ergonomic intervention to improve  working conditions at work