Ergonomic approach decrease musculoskeletal complaints and increases productivity of pindang producers in Kusamba, Bali

Abstract

Kusamba is a village known to be the largest central Pemindangan in Bali, housing 70 blocks of Pemindangan slot and can produce approximately 20 ton of pindang per day. Group of pindang producers consists mostly of women, and perform activities consisting of cleaning fish, salting, until boiling fish. They do all the activities in squatting position, sometimes sitting on a log. After they finish working, they always feel waist pain, stiffness in their whole body, especially back and leg. This study aims to determine the benefits of improved work attitude with an ergonomic approach to musculoskeletal complaints and work productivity of pindang producers group in Kusamba Village, Bali. This research design was experimental with treatment by subject. The subjects were 10 female workers who were choose by simple random sampling, and then they were intervened by ergonomic approach working condition. Musculoskeletal complaints were assessed using Nordic Body Map and productivity was measured by counting the number of pindang produced in 3 hours. The change of musculoskeletal complaints and productivity were compared before and after intervention using statistical analysis. Our result showed significant decrease of musculoskeletal complaints and increase of pindang productivity (p<0.05). So we concluded that ergonomic approach helps improve the working attitude of pindang workers in Bali.