Risk Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Disorders in Limbs in Mining Workers: Systematic Literature Review

A systematic review was conducted to identify ergonomic risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders in the limbs of mining workers, the assessment methods used, and their relationships. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 53 studies from Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, MDPI, and IEEE Xplore (January 2015–May 2026) were included. Eleven risk factors were identified, with vibration (18 studies) and working hours (12 studies) being the most frequently reported. Five individual assessment methods (ISO/IEC 2631-1, REBA, OWAS, NIOSH, Risk Score), one symptom questionnaire (Nordic Questionnaire), and five hybrid/advanced methods (Bayesian Network + REBA, RULA + Nordic, SEM + Participatory Ergonomics, DMQ + Logistic Regression, RULA + Fuzzy Logic) were identified. Fifteen limb segments were evaluated, with the back (15 studies), shoulders (12 studies), and neck (12 studies) being the most studied, while wrists and elbows were notably absent. Hybrid methods demonstrated superior accuracy compared to individual approaches. Underground mining studies (58%) predominated over open-pit operations (42%). The findings provide an integrated framework connecting risk factors, affected limbs, and assessment tools. Critical gaps were identified, including the lack of wrist/elbow evaluation, underrepresentation of female miners, and absence of AI-based assessment systems. Four key challenges are proposed for future research, including developing deep learning-based ergonomic assessment tools and implementing real-time monitoring systems.