Objective: To investigate the morbidity and influence factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in oil drillers.
Methods: The modified Nordic Standardized Questionnaire for WMSD was used to perform the epidemiological investigation in 860 oil drillers.
Results: The predominant sites of WMSD in the oil drillers were waist (50.6%), neck (29.8%) and shoulder (23.4%), respectively. There were significant differences of the WMSD morbidities in all body sites except for wrist and hip among groups with different working years (P < 0.05 of P < 0.01). The WMSD morbidities in the neck, shoulder, back and waist of oil drillers working for more than 40h a week were significantly higher than those of oil drillers working for less than 40 ha week (P < 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that some occupational factors, i.e. keeping stoop and stand for long time, repeating trunk bend, keeping awkward lift posture and lifting the heave objects, were the risk factors for WMSD at waist (P < 0.05), also some management factors, i.e. overtime work and inadequate rest, were the risk factors for WMSD at waist (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The WMSD appears to be a serious ergonomic problem in oil drillers, it is necessary to correct working posture, reduce working load, improve organizational management, and encourage a workplace health program with regular work and rest.