Ergonomic assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorder and its determinants among commercial mini bus drivers and driver assistants (mini bus conductors) in Nigeria

Introduction Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) is a leading causes of occupational injury and disability among drivers and workers in the transport industry. This study evaluated the ergonomically assessed WMSD and its determinants among Nigerian commercial mini bus drivers (BD) and mini bus conductors (BC) Method A total of 379 participants (BD = 200, BC = 179) were purposively sampled for this exploratory cross-sectional study. Participants’ WMSD and work related variables were respectively assessed using the standardized Nordic questionnaire and a content-validated, Driving Work Station Assessment (DWSA) form. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using chi-square and logistic regression. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05. Results The participants were aged between 20 and 66 years, with a mean age of 33.26±10.76years (BD = 38.42±10.22years, BC = 27.50±8.13years); most of whom consumed alcohol (84.4%) and experienced severe job stress (73.4%). There was a high prevalence (95.8%; BD = 94.5%, BC = 97.8%) of WMSDs, the lower back (66.8%) and upper back (54.1%) had the highest regional prevalence of WMSD. The BC (BC vs BD) had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of Neck (47.7% vs 21.5%) and upper back (80.4% vs 30.5%) WMSDs. Conversely, the BD (BD vs BC) had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of low-back (85.0% vs 46.4%), knee (25.0% vs 9.5%), elbow (11.5% vs 3.9%), and wrist (10.5% vs 3.4%) WMSD. There was a significant association between WMSD and each of work duration (X2 = 11.634, p = 0.009), work frequency (X2 = 8.394, p = 0.039), job dissatisfaction (X2 = 10.620, p = 0.001) and job stress (X2 = 16.879, p = 0.001). Working beyond 4days/week (OR = 10.019, p = 0.001), job dissatisfaction (OR = 1.990, p = 0.031), constrained working postures (OR = 5.324, p = 0.003) and fatigue (OR = 4.719, p = 0.002) were the predictors of WMSD. Conclusion Job stress, work duration and work frequency, posture and fatigue are important determinants of WMSDs among mini bus drivers and their assistants in Nigeria. Ergonomics training intervention for this population is recommended.

Development of the Prevent for Work questionnaire (P4Wq) for assessment of musculoskeletal risk in the workplace: part 1—literature review and domains selection

ObjectiveThis study aims to define appropriate domains and items for the development of a self-administered questionnaire to assess the risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) and the risk of its progression to chronicity.DesignLiterature review and survey study.Setting and participantsA literature review and a two-round interview with 15 experts in musculoskeletal pain were performed to identify the available domains for WMSD assessment.Interventions and outcomeTo ensure quality, only validated questionnaires were included for the Delphi process. A three-round Delphi method, with three round steps, was used to select the most pertinent and relevant domains and items.ResultsNine questionnaires were identified through the expert discussion and literature review, comprising 38 candidate domains and 504 items. In the first round of the Delphi group, 17 domains reached more than 70% agreement and were selected. In the second round, 10 domains were rejected, while 11 were selected to complete the pool of domains. In the third and final round, 89 items belonging to 28 domains were defined as significant to develop a WMSDs risk assessment questionnaire.ConclusionsNo specific risk assessment questionnaires for WMSDs were identified from the literature. WMSD risk of presence and chronicity can be defined by an assessment tool based on the biopsychosocial model and the fear-avoidance components of chronic pain. The present study provides the formulation and operationalisation of the constructs in domains and items needed for developing and validating the questionnaire.

Evaluation of a Passive Upper-Limb Exoskeleton Applied to Assist Farming Activities in Fruit Orchards

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) is a common occupational injury. Among the occupational injuries of agricultural workers, 93% are related to WMSD, with the shoulder being the second most affected area. This paper presents a passive upper-limb exoskeleton (PULE) with a gas spring and four-bar mechanism developed to aid the daily activities associated with orchard farming. The PULE is used to assist the arm-lifting process, reducing the physical exertion of farmers and the risk of developing WMSD. Electromyography (EMG) measurements of 26 participants were obtained to evaluate the difference in physical exertion with and without the PULE. Two arm activities: fruit thinning, with the arms raised and maintained at 100°, and pesticide spraying, with the hands swinging from 0° to 100° and back, were simulated. Using the PULE decreased muscle tension of the anterior deltoid (AD) by 17.64–19.86%. The PULE also decreased the AD activity by 37.67–39.57% during the actual orchard farming operations. The Qualisys motion capture system indicated that the difference in the lifting angle of the upper limb with and without the PULE was less than 1° and not significant (α > 0.05). Thus, the PULE did not affect the flexibility of the wearer in orchard farming activities.

Resiko Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Pada Relawan Tanggap Bencana

Peningkatan kesehatan fisik bagi relawan adalah salah satu cara program mitigasi bencana karena dengan memanagemen fisik dari relawan akan meningkatkan kapasitas proteksi diri dalam tanggap bencana. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui faktor resiko Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders pada Relawan Kebencanaan. Metodologi Berupa studi pustaka yang memfokuskan kepada kajian artikel, buku dan sumber lain. Kesimpulan : Cidera dan work related musculoskeletal disorders sangatlah tinggi untuk itu harus memperhatikan benar bagaimana pergerakan suatu fungsi tubuh yang menggunakan pergerakan secara manual untuk sebuah pemindahan objek. Sudah saatnya pekerja tanggap bencana memperhatikan pencegahan faktor resiko yang mungkin saja dialami. tujuan Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui faktor resiko Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders pada Relawan Kebencanaan

HOW WORKPLACE CONDITION AFFECTS HEALTHCARE WORKERS: ASSESSMENT AT TERTIARY HOSPITALS

Complaint of pain due to work related musculoskeletal disorder at workplace is nothing new. Nevertheless, in Malaysia, the data leading to this is near to none, when healthcare industry is concerned. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the current physical condition at red zone of accident and emergency department at selected hospitals and has the current condition contribute to the work-related musculoskeletal disorder among healthcare personnel. The study is conducted at five red zones of accident and emergency department of Malaysia tertiary hospitals. Before conducting the study, ethical approval has been obtained from ethical committee of Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Method used in this study is workplace assessment, which allows first-hand experienced to determine and evaluate the real condition of red zone at selected hospitals. Duration of twelve months is required to complete the assessment. During the workplace assessment, the lighting at red zone (focusing on bed area), the bed space, arrangement of equipment and height of monitors are observed, measured and recorded. Result show, every red zone is unique with its own layout and design. There is no standardization among all the red zones involved. Existing guideline for physical condition of red zone of accident and emergency does not exist. Thus, relationship between physical condition of existing red zone and whether it causes work related musculoskeletal disorder must be discussed in length.

ERGONOMIC ENGINEERING INTERVENTION OF BATIK STAMPING WORK TO REDUCE LIFTING LOAD

One of the common health problems for small and medium enterprise such as batik production is work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD). This health problem may contribute to long-term medical effect on the production workers. For batik stamping workers, the load of the copper block that need to be used repetitively can reach up to 2kg. This study aims to reduce WMSD effect by reducing the lifting load of the cooper block handled by the batik stamping worker. The worker’s working load is observed before the intervention process by using one of the ergonomic risk assessment tools, Rapid Upper Limb Asssessment (RULA). The ergonomic intervention designed in this study is from the engineering approach by modifying tools. It is found out that the intervention done were able to eliminate the lifting load handled by the worker to avoid discomfort or further health complication. This outcome are hoped to be able to improve workers’ health and increase batik stamping work productivity that eventually increased company’s revenue.