article · Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Vehicle repair workers face high risks of physical strain, yet research assessing their occupational health in Ethiopia remains scarce. An institution-based cross-sectional study evaluated 344 vehicle repair workers in Hawassa city using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire-Extended across nine body regions. The findings revealed that 47.7 percent of the surveyed mechanics experienced work-related musculoskeletal disorders over a twelve-month period. Statistical analysis identified multiple critical contributing factors, including repetitive movement, lack of professional training, forceful tool use, job stress, and the frequent manual handling of loads exceeding 20 kilograms. Addressing these occupational risks requires improving ergonomic awareness through worker training programmes. In addition, workshop owners need to identify practical methods to reduce physical strain, including evaluating the potential automation of high-risk manual tasks within their repair facilities.
Vehicle repair work involves heavy physical exertion that frequently leads to long-term physical disorders. Identifying specific workshop risks, such as repetitive tasks, heavy lifting, and inadequate training, provides garage owners and occupational health planners with direct evidence. This evidence helps design targeted workplace safety practices, preventive training, and ergonomic modifications to protect the health and productivity of automotive mechanics.
This research provides foundational epidemiological evidence rather than a market-ready tool. It highlights commercial opportunities for occupational health providers and vocational institutions to deliver targeted ergonomic training modules. Furthermore, the findings indicate potential demand for engineering firms to develop affordable automation and lifting aids tailored to automotive repair workshops, though actual technology development remains at a conceptual stage.
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Background: Vehicle repair work is one of the highest risk professions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Globally, only a few published studies have examined the prevalence and determinants of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among vehicle repair workers. Related studies in Ethiopia are even fewer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-reported work-related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among vehicle repair workers in Hawassa city, South Ethiopia, 2019. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 344 vehicle repair workers in the Hawassa city. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire-Extended (NMQ-E) was used to assess work-related musculoskeletal disorders on nine body regions. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses were used to characterize the data and identify factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Result: The twelve-month prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among this working group was 47.7% with 95% CI (42.7-53.2). Jobs continuously requiring repetitive motions (AOR: 4.29, 95% CI (1.78-10.2)), not having professional training (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI (1.09-3.81)), force exertion when using tools (AOR: 2.40, 95% CI (1.24-4.62)), job stress (AOR:4.54, 95% CI (2.44-8.46)), and regularly lifting, pushing, and pulling loads greater than 20 kg (AOR:4.85, 95% CI (2.65-8.87)) were identified as associated factors. Conclusion: This study showed a 47.7% prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Force exertion, repetitive tasks, manual handling of heavy loads, stress, and lack of training were the identified factors. Ergonomic awareness among workers should be increased through training. In addition, owners should investigate methods to reduce or eliminate risk factors leading to musculoskeletal disorders found among these workers. Automation of high-risk tasks should also be investigated.
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DOI: 10.1155/2020/9472357
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