Design, left-handed, CAD, Ergonomics, RULA
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Mohd Zubairy SHAMSUDIN1,2 and Nurshahirah MOHD SHAHID1
1Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Life Sciences, Universiti Selangor, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2Centre of Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management, Universiti Selangor, 45600, Bestari Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Corresponding author: mohdzubairy@unisel.edu.my
Page 15 – 21 | Vol. 4 No. 2 (2019) | Available online on 1 Dec 2019
Abstract
Workers in the automotive industry are exposed to various manual material handling activities that lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs). Lifting and lowering loads are the main activities in the development of low back pain among the workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted to calculate Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) and Lifting Index (LI) for the selected lifting and lowering activities and to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs symptom among the workers. 120 male subjects were selected through purposive sampling. Standard Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) was applied to identify WRMSDs. Meanwhile, NIOSH Revised Lifting Equation (NRLE) was used to evaluate job activities. Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) and Lifting Index (LI) for lifting and lowering tire were 11.78 kg (RWL origin) and 13.32 kg (RWL destination); 0.67 (LI origin) and 0.60 (LI destination) respectively. Meanwhile, RWL and LI for lifting front car bumper were 4.13 kg (RWL origin) and 3.72 kg (RWL destination); 1.40 (LI origin) and 1.08 (LI destination) respectively. The highest musculoskeletal disorder prevalence was lower back (39%), followed by shoulder (14%), upper back (11%), elbow (11%), neck (7%), wrist/hand (7%), ankle/feet (7%) and knees (7%). The study revealed the weight handled by workers for both activities were lower than RWL except RWL (destination) for the lifting and lowering front bumper. Meanwhile, LI for lifting and lowering tire was lower than 1.0 indicates the risk was nominal. However, LI for lifting and lowering front bumper was greater than 1.0 poses the condition of the activity more likely to cause risk for a majority of healthy workers. Necessary intervention must consider includes reducing vertical and horizontal distances, eliminated repetitive lifting and lowering and used applicable mechanical aids if necessary.
Keywords
Lifting; Lowering; NIOSH Revised Lifting Equation; assessment
Acknowledgement
This study was supported by Universiti Selangor (UNISEL). We would like to express our gratitude to the Department of Health Sciences, UNISEL Malaysia for the support in this study. Not to forget, our sincerest gratitude to all respondents who took part in this research.
© 2022 Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFEM). All rights reserved.
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Human Factors & Ergonomics Journal (HFEJ), eISSN: 2590-3705 is the official Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia. The journal is published on a biannual basis. HFEJ aims to address current research in the field of Ergonomics in addition to the broad coverage of cognitive ergonomics, user experience, physical ergonomics and others such as transportation, industrial design and industrial engineering. HFEJ is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), as such we only accept original work.