Musculoskeletal disorders and selecting an appropriate tool for ergonomic risk assessment in the dental profession

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Meysam Eyvazlou ◽  
Arya Asghari ◽  
Hamidreza Mokarami ◽  
Majid Bagheri Hossein Abadi ◽  
Milad Derakhshan Jazari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Musculoskeletal Discomfort ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Assessment ◽  
Ergonomic Risk

BACKGROUND: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are major challenges in the occupational health services industry. Dental practitioners are regularly subjected to ergonomic risks, which can cause Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in various body regions. OBJECTIVE: This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to investigate MSDs and select a proper ergonomic risk assessment method in dental practice. METHODS: This study was conducted on 70 dentists and 70 administrative staff of dental offices (comparison group) from Shahroud, Iran. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and two observational ergonomic risk assessment methods, including Quick Exposure Check (QEC) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), were utilized. RESULTS: The results suggested that the mean score of musculoskeletal discomforts was significantly higher in dentists than in the administrative personnel. Additionally, the results of multiple regression analysis technique inferred that job tenure, working hours, and age had a significant impact on total MSDs. Regular exercise was found to significantly reduce neck discomfort complaints. It was also found that QEC was more effective in predicting musculoskeletal discomforts compared to REBA. CONCLUSION: Considering the high incidence of WMSDs in dentists, various interventional measures revolving around ergonomically redesigned workstations, enhanced physical working conditions, and ergonomic training courses are suggested.

scholarly journals ERGONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT ON SELECTED HOT-WORK WORKERS AT COMPANY XXX

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special1) ◽  
pp. 176-185
Author(s):  
Sivabalan Sanmugum ◽  
Karmegam Karuppiah ◽  
Sivasankar
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Very High ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Assessment ◽  
Ergonomic Risk

Company XXX is a factory that involving manufacturing of offshore containers in where the hot works are one of the crucial activities in fabrication and structuring the framework of the containers. This study had been conducted at hot work section to conduct initial and advanced ergonomic risk assessment to identify ergonomic risk factors involved among hot-work workers which cause the significant number of reports on ergonomic related health issues at hot works area from the year 2011 to year 2017. The initial and advanced ergonomic risk assessment had been conducted based on DOSH latest release of guideline on ergonomic risk assessment 2017 and all findings had been tabulated and analysed. Based on the intial ergonomic assessment, total score achived is 17.7 with main risk factors identified through the hot work acticties are including awkward postures, repetitive motions, static and sustained work postures, vibration, insufficient ventilation, exposure of noise and working in extreme temperature. Based on Advanced ERA conducted on selected 3 workers, the study shows Muscle Fatigue Assessment (MFA) with average score for risk level shown ‘High’ and ‘Very High’ categories, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) with average total score more than 10 which categorized as ‘High Risk’ and Quick Exposure Check (QEC) which shown the workers have very high risk for back and shoulder or arm parts with score level are between 29 to 40 for back static and  41 to 56 for shoulder and arm parts. Based on results of the assessment, company XXX recommended had been to conduct further investigation for improvements to determine effective control measure for the work process in order to reduce that risk level towards the hot work workers.

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