Work activity and musculoskeletal symptoms in female cashiers

Abstract

Introduction Musculoskeletal symptoms affect several professional categories, including cashiers, who make repetitive movements. Irregular ergonomic aspects referring to poor postures cause physical and mental debilitation, leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Objectives To correlate musculoskeletal disorders with an ergonomic analysis of the workstation used by cashiers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted for evaluation of female cashiers working at a supermarket chain in the city of Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Portuguese version, was used. To assess the ergonomic position of cashiers, the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) tool was administered. Results A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was demonstrated in the neck, shoulders, wrists/hands, and lower and upper back in cashiers. A final RULA score of 6 was obtained, equivalent to action level 3, which indicates that a more detailed investigation and short-term changes are needed. In the RULA assessment, there was a significant correlation between legs and lower back; in the NMQ assessment, there were correlations between trunk and shoulder and between neck and elbow, among other correlations that contribute to the emergence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusions Musculoskeletal complaints correlated with an ergonomic risk of the workstation. Thus, interventions such as workplace kinesiotherapy and urgent changes in the workstation are needed to comply with the requirements of the Brazilian Regulatory Standard No. 17 and improve the workplace for cashiers.

Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among cashiers in small-scale businesses: a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

“…49 Additionally, the findings of the study indicated that the shoulders (51.5%), lower back (40.0%) and upper back (33.5%) were the most affected body regions. This finding was higher than that of a study report from Brazil, 7 which reported that 38.5%, 34.6%, and 30.8% of cashiers, respectively, complained of shoulder, lower back, and upper back pain. This variation could be caused by differences in the study period, sample size, sampling technique and the study population's knowledge about the variable of interest.…”

“…Cashiers are among the top 10 occupational working groups at risk of WRMSDs 6. A study from Brazil7 revealed that 38.5%, 34.6%, and 30.8% of cashiers experienced shoulder, lower back, and upper back pain, respectively. According to a study from Saudi Arabia,8 90% of supermarket cashiers had developed WRMSDs over a year, with the neck (66.84%) and lower back (65.80%) being the most affected body regions.…”

A Pausa No Trabalho Dos Operadores De Caixa (Checkout) De Um Hipermercado: Em Busca Da Qualidade De Vida E Do Bem-Estar Ocupacional

“…Para além do tratamento medicamentoso que deve ser prescrito pelo médico nos casos de dor intensa, a empresa deve investir em mobiliários e medidas ergonômicas e de segurança do trabalho para se prevenir o aparecimento das doenças ocupacionais. Assim, para amenizar ou até aliviar a pressão nos pés, nas costas e tornar a posição em pé mais confortável, pode-se fornecer uma almofada acolchoada ou um banco de elevação para elevar um pé de cada vez, permitindo que o operador de caixa mude de posição, alivie a pressão nas pernas e na região lombar (Roxô et al, 2021).…”