Analysis of worker strategies: A comprehensive understanding for the prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders

• Worker strategies to manage musculoskeletal pain and discomfort were documented.
• Results show a large variety of coping strategies.
• From the category-based breakdown of strategies, a framework was developed.
• Such a tool could serve for practitioners and researchers in WMSDs prevention.

By documenting the strategies developed by food processing workers to manage their musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in order to remain on the job, the present article seeks to increase awareness of a different “way of approaching” WMSDs inspired by the ergonomic approach centred on work activity analysis. Based on a mixed methods approach, an ergonomic work activity study combined with a multiple case study was conducted. Sixteen female seafood-processing workers were followed up during two consecutive work seasons using a range of interviews as well as observations of work activity throughout the entire study. A large variety of musculoskeletal pain management strategies developed by those workers to remain on the job were identified. This identification and the process of categorizing the strategies led to the development of a framework for studying worker strategies. The mixed methods approach made it possible to better pinpoint and understand obstacles to the development of workplace strategies and then identify avenues for change to improve working conditions.Relevance to industryThe framework constitutes a valuable contribution for the prevention of WMSDs by representing a methodological tool for documenting worker strategies. Very few tools of this kind are currently available for practitioners and researchers. In becoming aware of the existence of such coping strategies, companies can gain a better understanding of the difficulties workers have to cope with.