IMPACT OF ONSHORE OIL DRILLING WORKS ON MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG A GROUP OF EGYPTIAN DRILLING WORKERS

Abstract

Oil drilling industry is generally regarded as a stressful occupation. A significant portion of drilling workers might be seriously exposed to many stressors that include physical, psychosocial and ergonomic stressors that may adversely affect their musculoskeletal system and quality of life. Objectives: 1) Determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among Egyptian onshore oil drilling workers, 2) Identify the occupational, environmental and personal risk factors and best measures practice associated with these adverse health effects, and 3) Clarify the impact of onshore oil drilling works on the quality of life of the studied drilling workers. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from April 2010 till December 2010 on 276 onshore oil drilling workers employed in Egyptian drilling company (EDC), located at 17.5 km, Cairo Suez Desert Road. All participant was interviewed and asked to complete the following pre constructed questionnaires: 1) General personal history questionnaire, 2) Standardized Nordic questionnaire, 3) Self estimated work load questionnaire and 4) SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaint over the previous 12 months varied between (31.9 %) for low back region followed by shoulder (28.3 %), wrist (23.2 %), knee (16.3 %), neck (15.2 %), foot (12.3 %), thigh (10.9 %), elbow (10.1 %), while upper back region complaint was the least prevalent one (4.7 %). Lower back, wrist, neck and knee regions complaints were the most troubling regions affecting the daily activities of onshore oil drilling workers (mentioned 44.3 %, 40.6 %, 38.1 % and 37.7 % respectively). Significant associations were found between various physical workload stressors, psychosocial factors and negligence of best measures practice and increased risk of musculoskeletal complaints, while the overall ergonomic factors showed non significant association. The SF-36 mean scores among the studied workers indicated more worse quality of life with increased the distribution of MSK complaints. Conclusions: These results suggested that onshore oil drilling workers are at increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders predisposed by some items related to physical work load and work pressure factors that adversely affect worker's QOL, with unproved role of the ergonomic factors.