Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Firefighters: Do Task Characteristics and Work Experience Matter?

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to understand how firefighters’ task characteristics and work experience affect their development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Guided by literature on task characteristics, work experience and WMSDs, data was collected from 320 firefighters within the Greater Accra Regional fire command. Data was then analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that task characteristics had a significant positive effect on WMSDs. As such, increase in the severity and unpredictability of tasks performed by firefighters lead to increased incidences of WMSDs. Also, work experience did not have a significant effect on WMSDs. In addition, the task characteristics of firefighters did not moderate the relationship between their work experience and WMSDs. This reveals that task characteristics of firefighters do neither enhance nor reduce the effect of work experience on WMSDs. On the premise of the above findings it is concluded that the task characteristics of firefighters are challenging and unpredictable. Again, WMSDs are prevalent among firefighters. Also, work experience of firefighters does not influence their development of WMSDs. Based on these conclusions, it is recommended that fire commanders should minimize the intensity of tasks assigned to firefighters by introducing work dynamisms such as task sharing, job rotation and probably teleworking to enhance flexibility. Again, the Human Resource and Recruitment Department of the Ghana National Fire Service needs to consider the ability and fitness levels of potential firefighters during recruitment. When employed too, fire commanders need to consider the abilities of firefighters before assigning challenging tasks to them. In addition, regular physical activities and ergonomic policies should be put in place by the management of the Ghana National Fire Service to reduce the incidences of WMSDs.