Risk factors of repetitive strain injuries among workers of the stone sculpture industry, Chonburi province.

This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to investigate risk factors of Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) among workers of the stone sculpture industry, Chonburi province. Data were collected by the interviews using the structural questionnaire, hand grip strength measurement and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Risk factors were identifi ed by multiple logistic regression analysis and p-value 10 kg/day (41.46%). The six-month prevalence of RSIs was 36.59 (95% CI = 25.94 – 47.23). Multivariate analysis identifi ed that the worker who lifted the stone >10 times per day had 25.89 times the higher risk of the development of RSIs than the workers who lifted the stone ≤10 times per day (p-value=0.018, 95% CI = 1.76-397.86). These fi ndings suggest that, there should be the improvement of worksite ergonomics, providing instruments or the methods to reduce the frequency for lifting the heavy rock stone to avoid the repetitive overuse of the upper limbs. Moreover, workers have to learn of the right posture of working and lifting the heavy stone for RSIs protection.