Risk Assessment of Ergonomic Risk Factors at Construction Sites

2013 ◽  
Vol 330 ◽  
pp. 857-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Jabbarani Torghabeh ◽  
Seyyed Shahab Hosseinian ◽  
Aziruddin Ressang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Factors ◽  
Ergonomic Risk

Construction as a complex industry challenges the protection of safety and health of workers who are exposed to many risk factors in construction sites. Exposure to these risk factors may develop Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). The study is aimed at prioritizing Ergonomic Risk Factors (ERFs) in order of risk. To achieve the aim of this study, a questionnaire survey was distributed among respondents randomly selected from construction sites in Malaysia. The results of this study indicated that the most critical ERFs are Extreme hot temperature, Leaning forward/side, twisting the back and Organizational factors, while the least critical ERFs are Kneeling positions on hard surfaces, Holding tools with longitudinal ridges on handles tightly and Using hands or knees as a hammer. Identification of ERFs and their risk levels are the results of this study. Successful safety performance and management necessitate the investigation of ERFs and hazards regarding risk levels.

scholarly journals ERGONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESS MACHINE FOR CASAVA CHIPS IN SMES-KARYA LESTARI JAYA : A CASE STUDY

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Silviana Hakim ◽  
Andy Hardianto ◽  
N. Fuhaid ◽  
Dadang Hermawan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
The Press ◽  
Hierarchy Process ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Factors ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Assessment ◽  
Ergonomic Risk

This article investigates the effectiveness of the posture movement of a pressing machine to mold the cassava crackers. This study is undertaken at Karya Lestari Jaya, which is one of SMEs in Tulungagung, East Java Indonesia. This industry has a problem with the new manual pressing machine which is too stiff and heavy to be handled. The operators complain about feeling sore at upper and lower arms. It means that this activity has a poor posture when the operators are working. This research aims to identify the ergonomic risk factors for the pressing machine and to determine the best recommendation suggested by the operators and the owner of SMEs-Karya Lestari Jaya. We undertake a case study by collecting data from the observation. We analyze the observation data by RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment). Then, we interview eight interviewees to attain the attribute requires in improving the machine. Also, we analyze the best recommendation by using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process).  This study yields the score of RULA is 6 which means the posture in pressing the dough or the working facilities needs to be improved immediately. The results from AHP shows the best recommendation is adding the pneumatic system to the pressing machine to lighten the lever. Ultimately, this finding can be beneficial for the company by figuring the posture and evaluating improvement for the machine.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATION OF ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS AMONG MALE WORKERS IN A MEDICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN NORTHERN MALAYSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special1) ◽  
pp. 167-175
Author(s):  
Athirah Yusof ◽  
Nurul Shahida Mohd Shalahim
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
Manufacturing Company ◽  
Ergonomic Risk Factors ◽  
Male Workers ◽  
Ergonomic Risk

The medical manufacturing industry is currently one of the sectors with great potential growth in Malaysia, which offers numerous job opportunities to local and foreign workers. The growing proportion of workers in this industry means that a large number of workers are potentially exposed to ergonomic risk factors at the workplace, which may consequently affect their health. Thus, this study was carried out is to investigate the ergonomic risk factors and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among male workers in a medical manufacturing company in northern Malaysia. Eight industrial workers (n = 8) were recruited from two Plastic Technology (PT) departments to participate in this study. Observations were made by recording the participants performing two tasks (manual lifting of containers and bags of chemicals) using a video camera at the PT1 and PT3 departments. The participants’ personal information and their job-related characteristics were first collected using a demographic questionnaire. Next, the Cornell Musculoskeletal and Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among workers while Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC) were used to assess the most common risk factors during the lifting operations. The results showed that the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the male workers at the medical manufacturing company was at the lower back (83.17%), upper back (4.38%), right shoulder (3.49%), and left shoulder (3.49%). Based on the results of the MAC, 100% of the participants were at high risk of injury from postures in the vertical lift zones, torso twisting, and sideways bending. In addition, 87.5 and 62.5% of the participants were at high risk of injury based on their hand distance from the lower back and grip on the load, respectively. The results of this study can serve as a guideline to implement interventional ergonomics programmes at the workplace and improve the musculoskeletal health of workers in the medical manufacturing industry in Malaysia.

Are Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Claims Related to Risk Factors in Workplaces of the Manufacturing Industry?

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Bao ◽  
Ninica Howard ◽  
Jia-Hua Lin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Job Evaluation ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract Objectives Varied work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) claim rates were found between companies even when they were in the same sectors with similar sizes. This study aimed to (i) identify common risk factors for back, shoulder, hand/wrist, and knee WMSDs among manufacturing jobs, and (ii) characterize the biomechanical exposures in jobs and work organizational practices between high and low WMSD claim rate companies so that more focused, industry-specific intervention strategies may be developed. Methods Using historical workers’ compensation data, manufacturing companies were divided into two paired groups (low and high in the lower 25%ile and higher 75%ile, respectively). On-site job evaluations were conducted in 16 companies to determine job biomechanical risk levels. Management and workers’ representatives in 32 paired companies were interviewed to identify possible differences between management strategies and management/worker relationships. A total of 39 injured workers were also interviewed to gather information of self-reported injury causes and suggested preventive measures. Results Analyses of 432 job evaluations showed that more jobs had higher risk levels of prolonged standing and heavy lifting in the high back WMSD claim rate companies than the low claim rate ones. No high biomechanical risk factors were found to be associated with jobs in high shoulder claim rate companies. High repetition, pinch force, and Strain Index were associated with high hand/wrist WMSD claim rate companies. High work pace and job stress were common among high knee WMSD claim rate companies. There were no statistically significant differences for the organizational factors between high and low WMSD claim rate companies. Heavy lifting, fast work pace, high hand/wrist repetition, high hand force, and awkward shoulder postures were identified as major contributing factors by the injured workers. Conclusions High WMSD claim rate companies appeared to have more high biomechanical exposure jobs than low WMSD claim rate companies. Available job evaluation methods for the low back and hand/wrists are satisfactory in quantifying job risk levels in the manufacturing industry. Research into more sensitive job evaluation methods for the shoulder and knee are needed.

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