This study was conducted to estimate the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the effect of intervention program in shipyard workers.

Information on work related absences,due to musculoskeletal disorders, were collected between January, 1 2000 and August, 31 2002. Age, duration of work, job type, anatomical site of disease, cause and duration of absence due to sickness were investigated.

From a total of 158 cases there were 108(68.4%)and 50(31.6%)cases of back, and other musculoskeletal complaints,respectively. 55(34.8%)of the cases were caused by repetitive trauma and 103(65.2%)were due to non-repetitive causes. 90(83.3%)of the back complaint cases were due to non-repetitive causes, but there was a repetitive cause of other musculoskeletal complaints in 37(74.0%)cases. Back complaints were higher in workers carrying heavy materials, but other musculoskeletal complaints were higher in painting workers.Half of workers after an absence due to sickness had returned to work within 32.0 weeks and 25.4 weeks,in the cases of back and other musculoskeletal complaints, respectively. After the application of an intervention program for musculoskeletal disease, the incidence rate of absence due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders was reduced significantly.

The introduction of a musculoskeletal intervention program reduced absences due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.