Job-related stress associated with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs) in municipal waste collectors: the moderation and mediation effect of job support

doi:10.1186/s12891-022-05721-y

. 2022 Aug 10;23(1):762.

doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05721-y.

Job-related stress associated with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs) in municipal waste collectors: the moderation and mediation effect of job support

Ching-Lan Yang^#¹, Wei-Ping Huang^#², Wen-Yu Lin², Po-Chang Tseng^{2

3}, Hsien-Wen Kuo^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Occupational Medicine Department, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155, Sec.2, Linong Street, 112, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155, Sec.2, Linong Street, 112, Taipei, Taiwan. hwkuo@ym.edu.tw.
⁵ Institute of Public Health, National Defense University, Taipei, Taiwan. hwkuo@ym.edu.tw.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35948898
PMCID: PMC9364533
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05721-y

Job-related stress associated with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs) in municipal waste collectors: the moderation and mediation effect of job support

Ching-Lan Yang et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022.

. 2022 Aug 10;23(1):762.

doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05721-y.

Authors

Ching-Lan Yang^#¹, Wei-Ping Huang^#², Wen-Yu Lin², Po-Chang Tseng^{2

3}, Hsien-Wen Kuo^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Occupational Medicine Department, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155, Sec.2, Linong Street, 112, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 155, Sec.2, Linong Street, 112, Taipei, Taiwan. hwkuo@ym.edu.tw.
⁵ Institute of Public Health, National Defense University, Taipei, Taiwan. hwkuo@ym.edu.tw.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35948898
PMCID: PMC9364533
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05721-y

Abstract

Background: Since the policy of "keeping trash off of the ground" in Taiwan, long-term exposure to repetitive motion in waste collection process results in high risk of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs). Thus, we assessed the moderation and mediation effects of job-related stress and job support on work-related UEMDs among municipal waste collectors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two cities located at northern Taiwan during 2018-2019. 626 municipal waste collectors voluntarily participated and anonymously filled out a structured questionnaire. The moderation and mediation effects of effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and social support on UEMDs were analyzed by Haye's Process Macro Model.

Results: Prevalence of UEMDs in municipal waste collectors were 43.4% for neck, 56.0% for shoulder, 24.1% for upper back, and 33.1% for hand/wrist. There was high prevalence of shoulder (72.2%), neck (48%), and upper back (30%) in female workers compared to male, most significantly in shoulders. In univariate and multivariate analysis, high ERI and low job support were significantly associated with ORs of 3.11 (95% CI:1.58-6.13) for elbow, 2.79 (95% CI:1.39-5.56) for shoulder, 3.39 (95% CI:1.64-7.00) for upper back and 3.83 (95% CI:1.98-7.41) for hand/wrist. Prevalent UEMDs were positively associated with high ERI in municipal waste collectors but negatively with job support. The moderation effects of ERI and job support on UEMDs, of which the measured synergy index exceeded one, were 18.24 for shoulder, 3.32 for elbow, and 2.45 for hand/wrist, but mediation effects were not significant.

Conclusions: This study found municipal waste collectors with work-related upper extremity disorders were significantly associated with work-related psychological risk factors. Therefore, waste collection cannot only to be improved by semi-automatic and automatic processes but immediate intervention programs for the reduction of psychological risk factors is needed promptly.

Keywords: Job support; Job-related stress; Municipal waste collectors; Work-related upper extremity disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Schematic of the mediation effect of job support on the association between ERI and UEMDs using Haye’s Model 4. a: ERI lead to the effect of job sipport; b: job support affects the effect of UEMDs; c: ERI directly affects to UEMDs; c’: Indirect effect of job support on the association between ERI and UEMDs

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References

1. Sung HC, Sheu YS, Yang BY, et al. Municipal solid waste and utility consumption in Taiwan. Sustainability. 2020;12:3425. doi: 10.3390/su12083425. - DOI
1. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Regulation for recycling, clearance, and disposal of general wastes. Taiwan: EPA Executive Yuan, ROC; 2020.
1. Schibye B, Sogaard K, Martinsen D, et al. Mechanical load on the low back and shoulders during pushing and pulling of two-wheeled waste containers compared with lifting and carrying of bags and bins. Clin Biomech. 2001;16:549–559. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00039-0. - DOI - PubMed
1. Dorevitch S, Marder D. Occupational hazards of municipal solid waste workers. Occup Med. 2001;16(1):125–133. - PubMed
1. Kuije FM, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MHW. Health and safety in waste collection: Towards evidence-based worker health surveillance. Am J Ind Med. 2010;53(10):1040–1064. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20870. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Sung HC, Sheu YS, Yang BY, et al. Municipal solid waste and utility consumption in Taiwan. Sustainability. 2020;12:3425. doi: 10.3390/su12083425. - DOI

[2] Sung HC, Sheu YS, Yang BY, et al. Municipal solid waste and utility consumption in Taiwan. Sustainability. 2020;12:3425. doi: 10.3390/su12083425. - DOI

[3] Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Regulation for recycling, clearance, and disposal of general wastes. Taiwan: EPA Executive Yuan, ROC; 2020.

[4] Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Regulation for recycling, clearance, and disposal of general wastes. Taiwan: EPA Executive Yuan, ROC; 2020.

[5] Schibye B, Sogaard K, Martinsen D, et al. Mechanical load on the low back and shoulders during pushing and pulling of two-wheeled waste containers compared with lifting and carrying of bags and bins. Clin Biomech. 2001;16:549–559. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00039-0. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Schibye B, Sogaard K, Martinsen D, et al. Mechanical load on the low back and shoulders during pushing and pulling of two-wheeled waste containers compared with lifting and carrying of bags and bins. Clin Biomech. 2001;16:549–559. doi: 10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00039-0. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Dorevitch S, Marder D. Occupational hazards of municipal solid waste workers. Occup Med. 2001;16(1):125–133. - PubMed

[8] Dorevitch S, Marder D. Occupational hazards of municipal solid waste workers. Occup Med. 2001;16(1):125–133. - PubMed

[9] Kuije FM, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MHW. Health and safety in waste collection: Towards evidence-based worker health surveillance. Am J Ind Med. 2010;53(10):1040–1064. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20870. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Kuije FM, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MHW. Health and safety in waste collection: Towards evidence-based worker health surveillance. Am J Ind Med. 2010;53(10):1040–1064. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20870. - DOI - PubMed

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Job-related stress associated with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs) in municipal waste collectors: the moderation and mediation effect of job support

Affiliations

Job-related stress associated with work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMDs) in municipal waste collectors: the moderation and mediation effect of job support

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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References

MeSH terms

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