Occupational cervicobrachial disorders of workwomen in assembly lines of a cigarette factory

Abstract

A survey on the status of occupational cervicobrachial disorder in workwomen of a cigarette factory is described. About 270 workwomen were engaged in the assembly lines for cigarette rolling and packing for about 1/3-2/3 of the daily working hours. They repeatedly used the arms and hands with the posture being restrained to the line. For about 1/3-2/3 of the daily working hours, they engaged in machine operation and other jobs. They worked from 8:05 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. with 3 times of rest (10 min in the morning, 40 min of lunch time and 10 min in the afternoon). Workwomen numbering 117 in all and aged 27-49 yr (average: 36 yr) who wished to take health examination were surveyed. From the analyses of the data of physical examination and questionnaires etc. the following results were obtained: 1) From the evaluation of chief complaints and data of physical examinations of each subject, we classified the subjects into 4 grades: the grade I was almost healthy (12 subjects), the grade II was subclinical (63 subjects), the grade III was clinical (36 subjects) and the grade IV was severely clinical (6 subjects). 2) As items of the physical examination, lateroflexion degree of the neck, Morley's test, Allen's test, pressure pain, sensory disturbance, muscle powers and others were checked. And those data were found to be in concord with the severity of subjective symptoms and sufferings in daily life. 3) In the subjects who had severe subjective symptoms and sufferings in daily life, the suffering from the working posture at work was strong. And they complained of remarkable fatigue after work, sleep disturbance and residue of fatigue in the next morning. 4) Differences in the working conditions of each process appeared to influence the level of health conditions of the workwomen. From the results mentioned above, we discussed the relation between the disorder and the work, and the progress of the disorder. © 1977, Japan Society for Occupational Health. All rights reserved.