A student-centred design approach for reducing musculoskeletal disorders in India through Six Sigma methodology with ergonomics concatenation

Abstract

Classroom-related musculoskeletal disorders (CMSDs) rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasing despite the ever-collective interest in occupational health and safety (OHS) and succeeding developments over time. To explore the problem (i.e., OHS) with its proposed solutions, this study integrated the Six Sigma methodology with ergonomics principles to eliminate the CMSDs. Participants were 478 students from India as a country amongst the LMICs. The age range, mean, and standard deviation were 17–37, 20.28, and 2.348 for male students and 17–26, 19.57, and 2.163 for female students, respectively (units in years). The study found that students are prone to high risks of getting CMSDs due to prolonged usage of poorly designed furniture. The CMSDs results are as follows: fatigue joint and muscle pain (71%), shoulder and neck tension (70%), headache (63%), neck pain (53%), back pain (51%), legs’ joints pain (46%), shoulders and muscles pain (42%), elbow pain (42%), sleeplessness (insomnia) (40%) and hand pain (39%). The proposed solutions include the two ergonomically designed students’ desks; students’ requirements and anthropometric measurements consideration; occupational health and safety workshops and/or seminars preparation; administration interventions; behavioural (personal) interventions, and other engineering interventions.