Interaction between physical, psychosocial, and organisational work factors for low back symptoms and its consequences amongst Indonesian coal mining workers

Abstract

Although there is strong evidence that single physical, psychosocial and organisational risk factors are each independent predictors of low back symptoms (LBS) and its consequences, little is known about their combination/ interaction. A preliminary study was conducted among 673 workers as part of a larger study (n=1294) in a coal mining company in Indonesia. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain physical and psychosocial exposures, and organisational factors. Each participant was grouped into one of four combination exposure groups: 1) high physical (working with bent trunk, whole body vibration exposure, lifting) and high psychosocial (high effort, low reward, work stress), 2) h..