Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated with Cocoa Warehouse Tasks in Ghana: Preliminary Results from a Pilot Study

A Addo & A Bart-Plange

Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in workers who manually handle bagged cocoa beans in warehouses. Questionnaires were administered to 48 workers of 5 major cocoa purchasing companies within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs in Ghana. The results showed that MSDs were prevalent among workers in the warehouses. The percentage of workers who reported MSDs in the hip, upper back, shoulder and neck were 71%, 69%, 67% 49%, respectively. Furthermore, 44%, 42%, 22% and 17% reported MSDs in the lower back, knee, wrist/hand and foot/ankle, respectively. Multi-location MSDs in the upper back, shoulder and hip were experienced by 31% of the workers. Injury cases that required medical attention and work interruption, and fatigue after work were reported. Further studies and rationalisation of work methods such as the introduction of semimechanised material handling systems would help improve the health and safety of the workers.