An Investigation of Work-Related Risk Factors Among Sewing Machine Operators in Bangladesh

Working extended periods of time in front of sewing machines may cause discomfort to the operators of sewing machines. Sewing machine operators sit for extended periods of time and use their hands to control, handle, or feel objects and tools in repetitive processes which makes them vulnerable to musculoskeletal symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among sewing machine operators working in the apparel industry in Bangladesh while considering job characteristics, productivity, job satisfaction, workstation design, and working environment. The results showed that working in front of the sewing machines for a long period of time might cause musculoskeletal problems for the sewing machine operators in Bangladesh which is consistent with previous studies. Further, the environment of the sewing machine rooms, job characteristics, and workstation design were not satisfactory in some cases and might impact participants’ health