Abstract
BACKGROUND: Municipal solid waste handlers perform various work activities which may contribute to the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). This study conducted a postural analysis of these workers and a reference group of hospital general hands in order to identify unsafe working postures requiring correction. METHODS: The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methodology was used for postural analysis to 30 municipal solid waste handlers (MSWHs) and a reference group of 30 hospital general hands (HGHs) involved in similar work activities. Field observations and photography were used to collect data. Collected data was analysed using STATA version 13.RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the two groups. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for lifting, carrying and emptying activities. For both groups, the mean postural scores for pushing, pulling and standing activities were mainly in the low risk category and not statistically significant (p > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Results of the present study show unsafe RULA postural scores to MSWHs with regard to lifting, carrying and emptying of refuse bins. Such scores are suggestive of an elevated risk to developing WRMDs in these workers compared to the reference group.
Highlights
Poor working postures have been associated with an elevated of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) (Ariëns et al, 2001; Liu, Chen, Wang, & Hang, 2004; Kaliniene et al, 2016; Howarth et al, 2016)
Results of the present study show unsafe Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) postural scores to municipal solid waste handlers (MSWHs) with regard to lifting, carrying and emptying of refuse bins
Such scores are suggestive of an elevated risk to developing WRMDs in these workers compared to the reference group
Summary
Poor working postures have been associated with an elevated of developing WRMDs (Ariëns et al, 2001; Liu, Chen, Wang, & Hang, 2004; Kaliniene et al, 2016; Howarth et al, 2016). The activities performed in poor working postures have been richly investigated in occupations such as dentistry (Valachi & Valachi, 2003; Alexopoulos, Stathi, & Charizani, 2004; Howarth et al, 2016), computer work (Liu, Chen, Wang, & Hang, 2003; Malińska M & Bugajska, 2010; Kaliniene et al, 2016) and agriculture (Rosecrance, Rodgers, & Merlino, 2006; Holmberg, Thelin, Stiernström, & Svärdsudd, 2003) Such efforts assist in the identification of the poor postures requiring correction in the given occupations. This study conducted a postural analysis of these workers and a reference group of hospital general hands in order to identify unsafe working postures requiring correction
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