Interaction of Physical Exposures and Occupational Factors on Sickness Absence in Automotive Industry Workers

Valirad, Fateme; Ghaffari, Mostafa; Abdi, Alireza; Attarchi, Mirsaeed; Mircheraghi, Seyed Farzin; Mohammadi, Saber · 2015 · Crossref

DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v7n6p276

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Summary

This study investigates the determinants of sickness absence among workers in the automotive industry, aiming to identify controllable risk factors to reduce associated economic and productivity losses. Sickness absence is a significant socio-economic burden, driven by a complex interplay of individual, occupational, and physical factors. The research specifically evaluates how physical exposures and occupational characteristics influence the incidence and duration of absence in this high-risk industrial sector. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2011 and October 2012 involving 758 employees from a car accessories manufacturing company in Tehran, Iran. Participants were recruited voluntarily, and data were collected via self-administered questionnaires and company records. The study assessed socio-demographic variables, lifestyle factors (including BMI and smoking), occupational factors (job type and shift work), and physical exposures using the MUSIC-Norrtalje questionnaire. Sickness absence data, extracted from the company’s health and safety system, categorized absences into short-term (<3 days) and long-term (≥3 days) episodes, with diagnoses classified according to ICD-10. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to determine risk factors associated with sickness absence, adjusting for confounding variables. The results indicated that nearly half of the respondents (49.86%) experienced sickness absence. Respiratory diseases were the most frequent cause of absence, followed by musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and injuries. While respiratory and gastrointestinal issues primarily caused short-term absences, musculoskeletal disorders and injuries were strongly associated with long-term absence. Musculoskeletal disorders increased the risk of long-term absence by 4.33 times, and injuries by 1.95 times. Occupational factors emerged as critical predictors; blue-collar status and shift work were the most significant risk factors for both short- and long-term absence. In the final multivariate model, blue-collar work (OR=2.03), shift work (OR=1.74), frequent bending-twisting (OR=1.85), and heavy lifting (OR=1.09) remained significant independent predictors of sickness absence. Other significant factors included male gender, lower education levels, and high physical hard work. The study concludes that specific occupational and physical exposures are major drivers of sickness absence in the automotive industry. The findings highlight that ergonomic hazards, particularly heavy lifting and bending-twisting, combined with organizational factors like shift work and blue-collar job roles, significantly increase absenteeism. The authors recommend implementing ergonomic interventions, improving working conditions, and promoting health behaviors such as weight management and smoking cessation to mitigate these risks. These measures are presented as effective strategies for reducing sickness absence and its associated costs in industrial settings.

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