Journal of Agromedicine
Volume 19, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 384-394

Employer Differences in Upper-Body Musculoskeletal Disorders and Pain Among Immigrant Latino Poultry Processing Workers (Article)

Rosenbaum D.A. , Mora D.C. , Arcury T.A. , Chen H. , Quandt S.A.*
  • a Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Biostatistics, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Between-employer differences in working conditions may lead to variable injury rates. The objective of this paper is to assess the difference in the prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, and low back pain among immigrant Latino poultry workers at plants of three different employers. Data were collected from a cross-sectional study among 286 poultry processing workers. Community-based sampling was used to recruit participants in western North Carolina. Rotator cuff syndrome (26.7%) and low back pain (27.9%) were more prevalent among employees of one specific employer. Multivariate analysis showed significant associations of low back pain and rotator cuff syndrome with age, task performed in the processing line, and employer. Employer is a major predictor of musculoskeletal disorders and pain. Line speed and work pace may account for these differences and provide an opportunity for regulation and intervention to protect the health of workers. © , Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

Latino immigrant workers Employer differences musculoskeletal injuries

Index Keywords

food industry human middle aged North Carolina statistics and numerical data pain Occupational Diseases Animals Hispanic Americans animal Cross-Sectional Studies Musculoskeletal Diseases United States cross-sectional study migrant workplace Hispanic Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors Tennis Elbow Multivariate Analysis Rotator Cuff socioeconomics manpower Low Back Pain adult Food-Processing Industry pathophysiology Poultry
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84914813947&doi=10.1080%2f1059924X.2014.945710&partnerID=40&md5=a0a10b3c66c0f6edbdc3691797126c3d
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2014.945710
ISSN: 1059924X
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English