Ergonomic Assessment of Musculoskeletal Discomfort Among Commissary Foodservice Workers in Taiwan

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence rate and potential risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal discomfort among commissary foodservice workers in Taiwan. Many workers reported numb or sore discomfort in their shoulders (41.1%), hands/wrists (38.2%), and lower backs (40.1%). But the three highest discomfort scores were for the elbow 3.00 (±1.05), finger/wrist 2.74 (±1.04), and upper back 2.74 (±0.92) according to the 5-point level scores. Several tasks had significant correlations: packing lunch box with forearm discomfort (odds ratio; OR = 1.9) and ankle/feet discomfort (OR = 2.5), moving object with forearm discomfort (OR = 2.6), and pre-preparing with lower back discomfort (OR = 2.0). The RULA (Rapid Upper-Limb Assessment) was used to evaluate working postures. The most frequent upper arm extension (flexion) was 20-45? or more, and the range for the lower arm was less than 60? or more than 100? of flexion. The participants' heads were in extension and their trunks had the highest degree of flexion. Moreover, their legs and feet were not balanced properly. RULA was determined from video recordings and presented as a useful technique. Results indicated that all four jobs (pre-prep/bussers, preparation/cooks and chefs, utility/dish washers, and service/packers) had frequent extension/flexion postures and posted high grand total risk scores (4.93-5.69).