Journal Article

Differences in physical workload between military helicopter pilots and cabin crew

Van den Oord, Marieke H. A., Sluiter, Judith K., Frings-Dresen, Monique H. W.

2014

Overview

Purpose The 1-year prevalence of regular or continuous neck pain in military helicopter pilots of the Dutch Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) is 20 %, and physical work exposures have been suggested as risk factors. Pilots and cabin crew perform different tasks when flying helicopters. The aims of the current study were to compare the exposures to physical work factors between these occupations and to estimate the 1-year prevalence of neck pain in military helicopter cabin crew members. Methods A survey was completed by almost all available helicopter pilots ( n  = 113) and cabin crew members ( n  = 61) of the DHC. The outcome measures were self-reported neck pain and exposures to nine physical work factors. Differences in the proportions of helicopter pilots and cabin crew members reporting being often exposed to the particular physical factor were assessed with the χ 2 test. Results The 1-year prevalence of regular or continuous neck pain among cabin crew was 28 %. Significantly more cabin crew members than pilots reported being often exposed to manual material handling, performing dynamic movements with their torsos, working in prolonged bent or twisted postures with their torsos and their necks, working with their arms raised and working in awkward postures. Often exposure to prolonged sitting and dynamic movements with the neck were equally reported by almost all the pilots and cabin crew members. Conclusion Flight-related neck pain is prevalent in both military helicopter pilots and cabin crew members. The exposures to neck pain-related physical work factors differ between occupations, with the cabin crew members subjected to more factors. These results have implications for preventative strategies for flight-related neck pain.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Aerospace Medicine / Aircraft / Biological and medical sciences / Diseases of the osteoarticular system / Earth and Environmental Science / Environment / Environmental Health / Female / Health Surveys / Helicopters / Humans / Male / Medical sciences / Military / Military helicopters / Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data / Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases / Neck Pain - epidemiology / Neck Pain - etiology / Occupational Diseases - epidemiology / Occupational Diseases - etiology / Occupational exposure / Occupational health / Occupational medicine / Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine / Original Article / Pain / Pilots / Prevalence / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Rehabilitation / Risk Factors / Self Report / Surveys and Questionnaires / Workload - statistics & numerical data