Musculoskeletal disorders and work assessment in pharmaceutical distribution units: A case study

Abstract

The pharmaceutical supply chain serves as an intermediary between a pharma company and consumers/ patients. Distribution units or Carrying and Forwarding Agent (CFA) is one of the connecting links in the pharma supply chain that connects manufacturer to wholesaler or stockist. The job of workers at the CFA level is to pack medicines in customized packages for wholesalers. Packing work necessitates these workers to do repetitive activities and assume awkward postures, which can trigger work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are painful disorders resulting due to constant body movements and prolonged postures. This study was carried to evaluate the MSD prevalence among pharmaceutical supply chain workers and understand their work pattern. Data for 112 subjects (88 male and 24 female) from 11 CFAs were obtained using observation, a general questionnaire, and a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Results indicated MSD prevalence among male and female workers, with the maximum number of workers reporting pain in the lower back, knee, and ankle/ feet. The findings can be attributed to the postures adopted while working as it was noticed that bent and twisted back, bent and twisted legs, squatting, and kneeling on the floor were the most common work postures. The results of this study highlight a need for posture assessment and the creation of a workstation to eliminate harmful postures and consequently reduce MSDs among pharmaceutical packing workers.