CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of work-related SP
amongst Thai garment workers in this study.
Contributing factors for SP were the length of
garment work experience, work posture (no
change of posture in each hour), and a poor seat
at workstations (i.e., an inappropriate seat width).
In order to help reduce or prevent SP in this
occupational group, it is proposed that the
dimension of seats at workstations should be
redesigned and seating should be more appropriately
fitted to workers. A process of ergonomics
education should be routinely implemented to
help improve working behaviour and working
conditions among informal workers. Health
related sectors and community hospital should
collaborate to initiate MSDs surveillance program
for home workers. In addition, lighting levels
should be adjusted to the standards required by
Thai labour protection (2006).
For the future, a prospective investigation
should be conducted in order to confirm the
findings of this cross-sectional study and to limit
any recall and/or information bias. In order to
identify significant risk factors for back and
shoulder pain in the work environment, a
prospective cohort study should be conducted
amongst a group of garment workers with work
experience of at least one year.