Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and quality of work life among Nigerian sawmill workers

BackgroundSawmill workers are at high risk of developing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) due to the physically demanding nature of their job, especially in developing countries where mechanisation has not been implemented. Currently, no study has explored the impact of WRMSDs on the Quality of Work Life (QoWL) of sawmill workers.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess WRMSDs and QoWL among Nigerian sawmill workers.MethodsSawmill workers were recruited from seven randomly selected sawmills for this cross-sectional survey. The participants were members of the sawmill workers association and had been employed for at least 12 months. The Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaires, and the QoWL questionnaire were utilised to evaluate WRMSDs and QoWL, respectively.ResultsTwo hundred sawmill workers participated in the study. The neck (86.0%) followed by the lower back (84.5%) were the most commonly affected by WRMSDs. Most of the participants had low QoWL (56.0%). Lower QoWL was significantly correlated with lifetime prevalence of neck pain (r = 0.383, p = 0.001), and hips, thighs, or buttocks pain (r = -0.599, p = 0.001). Lifetime prevalence of lower back pain was correlated with lower general well-being (r = 0.443, p = 0.001). Also, point prevalence of neck pain was significantly correlated with reduced general well-being (r = 0.151, p = 0.032) and perceived work conditions (r = 0.364, p = 0.001). Participants (92.0%) with a low QoWL had lower levels of general well-being.ConclusionsThere was a significant occurrence of WRMSDs among Nigerian sawmill workers, primarily impacting the neck and lower back. The study implies that WRMSDs, particularly affecting the neck and lower back, significantly reduce the QoWL among Nigerian sawmill workers, highlighting an urgent need for ergonomic and occupational health interventions in this sector.