Citation

Salwe K, Kumar S, Hood J. J. Environ. Public Health 2011; 2011: 382510.

Affiliation

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Department, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Room CBH 431, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Hindawi Publishing)

DOI

10.1155/2011/382510

PMID

21776437

PMCID

PMC3136138

Abstract

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in hospital cleaners. Methods. Injury data on all hospital employees were extracted from occupational health records and compared. Additionally an interview-based modified Nordic Questionnaire (response rate 98.14%) was conducted. Results. The mean total injury rate for cleaners was 35.9 per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE), while that for other employees was 13.64 per 100 FTE. Slips/trips/falls and MMH contributed 4.39 and 2.37 per 100 FTE among cleaners and rest of the hospital employees, respectively. The most common type of injury was strain while the most common cause of injury was a striking object. Conclusion. The cleaners have higher injury rates and morbidity as compared to other employees of the hospital. The lower back was most commonly affected.

Language: en