Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal
IntroductionThe public transport sector plays a crucial role in society, offering essential services and providing employment to a significant number of drivers. Despite the importance of this sector, it is essential to recognize that drivers are exposed to various occupational risks inherent to the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529023/full |
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| author | Tânia T. Silva Tânia T. Silva Tatiana R. Mendes Inês Lapa Inês Lapa Paulo Carvalho Matilde A. Rodrigues Matilde A. Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Tânia T. Silva Tânia T. Silva Tatiana R. Mendes Inês Lapa Inês Lapa Paulo Carvalho Matilde A. Rodrigues Matilde A. Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Tânia T. Silva |
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| description | IntroductionThe public transport sector plays a crucial role in society, offering essential services and providing employment to a significant number of drivers. Despite the importance of this sector, it is essential to recognize that drivers are exposed to various occupational risks inherent to their daily work, which can have serious implications for their health. This study aims to characterize and analyse Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) and psychosocial risks in a public transport company.MethodsIn the initial phase of the study, a questionnaire was administered to assess musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial risks. In the second phase, an inertial motion capture system was used to evaluate the risk of developing WMSD.ResultsThe results revealed a significant and concerning prevalence of burnout, with over 60% of workers reporting high or severe levels across all dimensions (i.e., personal, work-related, and client-related burnout). Depression, anxiety, and stress were within typical ranges, though a relevant percentage of participants exhibited severe and extremely severe levels of depression (7.2%), anxiety (12.2%), and stress (8%). Musculoskeletal discomfort was highly prevalent, particularly in the lower back (68.3%) and neck regions (57.2%), regarding pain over the last 12 months. Additionally, the risk of developing WMSDs was high across the various microtasks, which were analyzed across different bus lines and routes, with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scores ranging from 4 (Medium Risk) to 7 (Very High Risk).DiscussionBased on the results, varying bus types and routes is recommended. Programs should enhance wellbeing, and studies should assess interventions on health, stress, and occupational risks focused on enhancing worker wellbeing should be implemented, and future studies should assess the impact of interventions targeting health, stress, and occupational risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cee523e3876f4e6ebdd0046c3758d452 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-cee523e3876f4e6ebdd0046c3758d4522025-08-20T02:20:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15290231529023Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in PortugalTânia T. Silva0Tânia T. Silva1Tatiana R. Mendes2Inês Lapa3Inês Lapa4Paulo Carvalho5Matilde A. Rodrigues6Matilde A. Rodrigues7RISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), E2S, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Environmental Health, E2S, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Environmental Health, E2S, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, PortugalRISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), E2S, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Environmental Health, E2S, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, PortugalRISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), E2S, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, PortugalRISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), E2S, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Environmental Health, E2S, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, PortugalIntroductionThe public transport sector plays a crucial role in society, offering essential services and providing employment to a significant number of drivers. Despite the importance of this sector, it is essential to recognize that drivers are exposed to various occupational risks inherent to their daily work, which can have serious implications for their health. This study aims to characterize and analyse Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) and psychosocial risks in a public transport company.MethodsIn the initial phase of the study, a questionnaire was administered to assess musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial risks. In the second phase, an inertial motion capture system was used to evaluate the risk of developing WMSD.ResultsThe results revealed a significant and concerning prevalence of burnout, with over 60% of workers reporting high or severe levels across all dimensions (i.e., personal, work-related, and client-related burnout). Depression, anxiety, and stress were within typical ranges, though a relevant percentage of participants exhibited severe and extremely severe levels of depression (7.2%), anxiety (12.2%), and stress (8%). Musculoskeletal discomfort was highly prevalent, particularly in the lower back (68.3%) and neck regions (57.2%), regarding pain over the last 12 months. Additionally, the risk of developing WMSDs was high across the various microtasks, which were analyzed across different bus lines and routes, with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) scores ranging from 4 (Medium Risk) to 7 (Very High Risk).DiscussionBased on the results, varying bus types and routes is recommended. Programs should enhance wellbeing, and studies should assess interventions on health, stress, and occupational risks focused on enhancing worker wellbeing should be implemented, and future studies should assess the impact of interventions targeting health, stress, and occupational risks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529023/fullanxietyburnoutbus driverdepressionstresstransport sector |
| spellingShingle | Tânia T. Silva Tânia T. Silva Tatiana R. Mendes Inês Lapa Inês Lapa Paulo Carvalho Matilde A. Rodrigues Matilde A. Rodrigues Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal Frontiers in Public Health anxiety burnout bus driver depression stress transport sector |
| title | Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal |
| title_full | Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal |
| title_short | Assessing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers: insights from a municipal company case study in Portugal |
| title_sort | assessing work related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial risks in bus drivers insights from a municipal company case study in portugal |
| topic | anxiety burnout bus driver depression stress transport sector |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1529023/full |
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