This cross-sectional observational study assessed the pattern of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) suffered by bank office workers in Kuwait. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used that included the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ12). Of 750 employees, 80% suffered at least 1 episode of MSD during the previous year and 42% suffered at least 1 disabling episode. The most affected body parts were the neck (53.5%), lower back (51.1%), shoulders (49.2%) and upper back (38.4%). Nationality, GHQ12 score, smoking and sex were significant predictors of MSDs during the previous year, while alcohol drinking, marital status, GHQ12 score, years in Kuwait and sex were significant predictors of disabling MSDs during the previous year.

BackgroundHot, desert Gulf countries are host to millions of migrant workers doing outdoor jobs such as construction and hospitality. The Gulf countries apply a summertime ban on midday work to protect workers from extreme heat, although without clear evidence of effectiveness. We assessed the risk of occupational injuries associated with extreme hot temperatures during the summertime ban on midday work in Kuwait.MethodsWe collected daily occupational injuries in the summer months that are reported to the Ministry of Health’s Occupational Health Department for 5 years from 2015 to 2019. We fitted generalised additive models with a quasi-Poisson distribution in a time series design. A 7-day moving average of daily temperature was modelled with penalised splines adjusted for relative humidity, time trend and day of the week.ResultsDuring the summertime ban, the daily average temperature was 39.4°C (±1.8°C). There were 7.2, 7.6 and 9.4 reported injuries per day in the summer months of June, July and August, respectively. Compared with the 10th percentile of summer temperatures in Kuwait (37.0°C), the average day with a temperature of 39.4°C increased the relative risk of injury to 1.44 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.53). Similarly, temperatures of 40°C and 41°C were associated with relative risks of 1.48 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.59) and 1.44 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.63), respectively. At the 90th percentile (42°C), the risks levelled off (relative risk 1.21; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.57).ConclusionWe found substantial increases in the risk of occupational injury from extremely hot temperatures despite the ban on midday work policy in Kuwait. ‘Calendar-based’ regulations may be inadequate to provide occupational heat protections, especially for migrant workers.

Introduction: Digital data are becoming of increased use among all governmental and non-governmental facilities not only in Kuwait but all over the world. Data mechanization is being used at the medium and small establishments. Thus, screens, mouse, and keyboard terms are being used increasingly by a large number of employees. This extensive use of the digital technology must be accompanied by a parallel one that searches for the possible health hazards out of this exposure and how to provide effective control measures that would eliminate or at least control these health hazards. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are important health problems among workers using video display units. Awareness of workers and modification in the workstations might play an effective role in controlling pain and discomfort resulting from ergonomic stressors. Objectives: To identify a pattern of MSDs and environmental health hazards in the studied workplaces, to find out the ergonomic stressors inside the studied workplaces, to review health and safety program at the studied bank and to estimate the impact of the proposed intervention on the degree of severity of MSDs among the examined workers. Subjects and Methods: A randomized control intervention study was carried out to include all employees at all branches of a randomly selected bank in Kuwait. Bank branches were selected by simple random technique to be allocated to either control group or intervention group. 117 employees were considered as controls while 127 employees were subjected to the intervention. Evaluation of the results was assessed at 3 intervals (6 months apart) for 18 months. Results of intervention were assessed based on a comparison between baseline and after 18 months. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to assess musculoskeletal pain/discomfort, and the NIOSH computer workstation checklist was used to assess ergonomic stressors. The intervention included: review and adjustment of the Display Screen Equipment/Visual Display Units, work breaks, relaxation and stretching exercises and physical aspect of the workplace environment. Results: Non-adjustable chairs, keyboards and document holders were only significantly improved among the intervention group. The frequency of musculoskeletal complaints at most of the studied body parts were significantly improved among the intervention group. These intervention activities also succeeded to improve body posture in relation to the used computer significantly. The feeling of hot or cold temperature, irritating noise, and highly repetitive tasks was significantly improved by intervention. Age, nationality, years spent at work, work duration, smoking and use of a computer at home did not have any significant relation to the improvement of musculoskeletal complaint that was achieved among the intervention group. Sex, education, frequent breaks and use of video games at home were only significantly related to the improvement of musculoskeletal complaints, among workers enrolled in the intervention gr...