Are blue-collar workers more physically active than white-collar at work?

Abstract

This study evaluates the physical activity level at work and leisure time of white-collar and two groups of blue-collar workers from the latex glove industry and the association of physical activity level and musculoskeletal complains and work ability. The workers’ sociodemographic and behavioral health characteristics, work ability index, musculoskeletal complains, total step count and caloric expenditure for three consecutive days, were assessed. The blue-collar workers that move most from the workstation (longD) were more physically active at work compared to white-collar and blue-collar that moved close the workstation (shortD). But in leisure-time the result is reversed, white-collar and blue-collar groups were significantly more active. There was no association between physical activity level and musculoskeletal pain intensity and work ability. All the groups of workers exhibited satisfactory physical activity levels, but only blue-collar (longD) were more physically active (10,000 steps per day).

Keywords:

• Occupational health
• physical inactivity
• sedentary lifestyle
• workplace

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the company and employees that allowed us to collect the data for this research.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with regard to this research.

Key points

• Blue-collar workers may also be sedentary at work, depending very much on the characteristics of the occupation.

• Office workers are no more sedentary than production workers who moved short distance at work.

• Interventions in the workplace should consider the real issues of the task and the diversity of the workers’ demands.