Occupational Hazards and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Pakistan’s Delivery Workforce

Abstract

Background: The fast-developing gig economy in Pakistan, which is a result of e-commerce and food delivery, is based on a substantial number of motorcycle delivery riders. These are workers engaged in the informal sector and are exposed to ergonomic hazards over a long period, but are not well represented in national occupational health surveillance. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are assumed to be caused by prolonged sitting and whole-body vibration, and repetitive lifting, but localized epidemiological data are lacking critically.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey will be carried out in Karachi on 95 active delivery riders between March and May 2024. The participants were recruited through the use of convenience sampling of high-demand areas. A standardized, pilot-tested, structured questionnaire (Cronbach's 0.80) was used to assess socio-demographics, work patterns, ergonomic awareness and self-reported MSD symptoms over 12 months. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data in order to get the odds ratio (OR).

Results: The 12-month prevalence of any MSD was 62.1 (59/95). The site that was the most affected was the lower back (41%), followed by the shoulders (28) and knees (24). There was a substantial dose-response correlation between the daily work hours and the prevalence of MSD. Individuals with a shift longer than 10 hours were also 1.8 times more likely to report MSDs (95% CI: 1.1- 3.0). Other correlates of significant interest (p<0.05) were sitting for over 6 hours, heavy load lifting (over 5 kg), low scores in ergonomic awareness and having rare rest breaks.

Conclusion: MSDs are very common in motorcycle delivery employees in Pakistan and are closely linked with long working hours and numerous ergonomic risk factors. This study highlights the fact that multi-level interventions, such as ergonomic education, the supply of protective equipment, controlled rest periods, and the official acknowledgement of health rights of gig workers, are necessary to provide a sustainable workforce.