Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Cleaners in College Workplace

Mohd Raziff MAT HASSAN1, Muhamad Husaini HARIS2, Muhammad Naqib OSMAN3, Ammar ADNAN4, Radin Zaid RADIN UMAR5, Siby SAMUEL6, Mohd Hanafi ANI2, Malek HAMID2, *

1Faculty of Science & Technology Open University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

4SimplyErgo Consultancy, Kedah, Malaysia

5Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia

6Department of System Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

* Corresponding Author: abdmalek@iium.edu.my

Page 71 – 76   |   Vol. 4 No. 2 (2019)   |    Available online on 1 Dec 2019

Abstract

Cleaners are suffering from musculoskeletal disorders symptoms, which is contributed mainly by awkward postures, forceful exertion, and repetitive tasks. However, very few studies have been done on cleaners at college workplace. Thus, the objectives of the study are: (i) to evaluate working postures among the cleaners using REBA analysis; (ii) to evaluate discomfort level among cleaners using MSS body symptoms; (iii) to compare working postures among cleaners by task; (iv) to compare working postures among cleaners by workplace setting; and (v) to evaluate the relationship between REBA score and MSS body symptoms survey. Thirty IIUM cleaners between 27 to 63 years old of age [mean = 45.64; SD = 9.7] participated in this study. Four video clips were taken while the participants were doing four different tasks (one clip per task). From each video clip, three postures were selected and analyzed by using REBA analysis. In total, twelve postures were analyzed for each participant. In addition, participants were also asked to rate their discomfort level by using MSS body symptoms survey. The results showed that: (i) cleaners at college are exposed to a high risk for MSDs [REBA mean score = 7.86; SD = 0.861]; (ii) cleaners reported a high number of discomfort level [MSS mean score = 4.47; SD = 3.79]; (iii) the REBA score between the tasks are significantly different, F (3,356) = 26.282, p <0.001; (iv) the REBA score between the academic building and dormitory are not significantly different; and (v) there is no correlation between the REBA score (measured) and MSS score (self- reported). These findings show that cleaners at college workplace indeed expose to risk for musculoskeletal disorders, thus, awareness programs and proper training on ergonomics should be provided.

Keywords

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Cleaners, REBA Analysis, Posture, Ergonomics

Acknowledgement

The research was supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education through the RAGS15-066-0129 grant to International Islamic University Malaysia (Malek Hamid, PI). This study was also supported by the Department of Manufacturing
and Materials Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia.

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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.