Poor Working Postures Research Articles

Leveraging wearable sensors and machine learning for posture-based detection of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract Carpal tunnel is associated with long-term use of the wrist and hand for various activities such as typing, welding, or poor working postures. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) may cause severe pain and discomfort in the hand and wrist, and in some circumstances, surgery becomes inevitable. The objective of this study is to prevent typing postures, which can be ascertained as predisposing subjects to CTS development. The data used in this study is an array of wrist wearable sensors to capture flexion, extension, and bending of fingers while using a keyboard or mouse. Machine learning is employed on the data in order to identify risk factors indicative of a high probability of CTS. The analyzed models are linear regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron, Convolution Neural Network, and Long Short Term Memory. The conditions for assessing the performance of the data models include RMS error, coefficients of determination, and mean absolute percentage error. In this research, I conducted an exploratory data analysis (EDA) to gain an initial understanding of the dataset. Following the exploratory phase, I applied feature extraction techniques, specifically Principal Component Analysis (PCA). As put forward for the proposed research, the strategies to prevent risky occupations have broad potential at the present time, especially in the case of CTS when preventing repetitive wrist movements.

Analysis of poor work postures during morning care operations of intensive care unit nurses: a field research

BackgroundPoor working postures in morning care operations contribute significantly to work-related muscle fatigue and low back pain among ICU (Intensive Care Unit, ICU) nurses. However,there are few field studies on the relationship between Poor working postures and work-related muscle fatigue, low back pain among ICU nurses.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the frequency and degree of posture hazards associated with poor working postures during morning care operations of ICU nurses.MethodsTwo ICUs in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Hunan Province were randomly selected for the field study in May–June 2021 research. The image data of the participating nurses’ morning care work postures were collected by observation method and image recording method, and the postural hazard level was assessed by the two-person interpretation method of the work posture analysis system. The mean and standard deviation, frequency and percentage were used for the basic statistical description, and the general linear model multivariate Hotelling’s T2 test was used to calculate the Hotelling’s T2 and F statistics to explore the pattern of change in the postural hazard score curves.ResultsA total of 45 nurses were observed during morning care operations, resulting in 47.8 h of video data and 34,428 effective static operation posture pictures. Among these pictures, 21,166 (61.5%) depicted poor working postures. Nurses spent up to 7 min and 30 s maintaining a challenging posture during oral care, with the highest postural hazard score (M = 2.2, SD = 0.3) observed during defecation care. Each patient requires a total of 25–30 min of oral care per day.The Hotelling’s T2 test indicated that the change curve of the postural hazard score in each step revealed the largest second-order F value, F = 52.931, P < 0.001.DiscussionICU nurses frequently adopt poor working postures during morning care operations. Further research should focus on optimizing safe working postures to prevent or minimise detrimental occupational hazards resulting from poor working postures.Research on occupational low back pain among ICU nurses can help them work more efficiently, and thereby improving their nursing level.

The Effect of Working Posture on Musculoskeletal Disorders Complaints Moderated By Smoking Copra Workers in Tanjung Balai, Asahan Regency

&lt;div&gt;&lt;table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="left" valign="top"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Musculoskeletal complaints refer to discomfort or pain in the musculoskeletal system, ranging from mild to severe. One type of job that is particularly prone to musculoskeletal disorders is copra work, primarily due to poor working posture. This study aims to analyze the effect of working posture on musculoskeletal disorder complaints among copra workers in Tanjung Balai, Asahan Regency. The study is an analytical survey with a cross-sectional design, conducted in Bandar Jawa Village, Tanjung Balai Subdistrict, Asahan Regency, from December 2023 to February 2024. The study population consisted of all 139 copra workers in Bandar Jawa Village, and a sample of 104 workers was selected using the Slovin formula. The sampling technique employed was simple random sampling. Data were collected through surveys and questionnaires administered to respondents. The research instruments used were the Nordic Body Map and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) evaluation sheet. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, with three stages: univariate analysis using frequency, bivariate analysis using simple linear regression, and multivariate analysis using Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) with a significance level of 95% (α=0.05). The results showed that working posture significantly affected musculoskeletal disorder complaints, moderated by smoking habits, with a p-value of 0.001. It can be concluded that smoking exacerbates the negative effects of poor working posture on musculoskeletal health, increasing the risk of injury and slowing recovery. It is recommended that copra workers take preventive measures against musculoskeletal disorder complaints by improving their work environment, paying attention to rest periods, engaging in light relaxation exercises, and that employers provide education on worker safety and health to copra workers.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keywords: &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Musculoskeletal disorders, Smoking, Work posture&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The Relationship Between Working Posture and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Waste Pickers at Blondo Landfill

Abstract Background: Blondo landfill serves as a final processing site for waste and also a source of livelihood for scavengers. Scavengers are workers who are at risk of musculoskeletal disoders (MSDs) complaints due to heavy, repetitive physical work and poor work postures due to bending. During waste collection and sorting, waste pickers perform repetitive movements with non-ergonomic postures, away from the ideal body position. Based on data from Puskesmas Bawen, 45% of 73 waste pickers experienced muscle and joint pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between working posture and complaints of musculoskeletal disorders.Methods: This study was an observational analytic research in a cross sectional design. The population in this study were Blondo landfill waste pickers. The subjects were 65 waste pickers who were chosen through purposive sampling technique. Data collection was conducted through interviews using the Nordic Body Map questionnaire, digital camera and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) sheet. Data analysis were conducted using Spearman rank tests.Results: The results showed that of the 65 waste pickers, the majority were female (53.3%), aged &gt; 35 years (93.8%), had a working period of more than 5 years (61.5%), and normal nutritional status (56.9%). Scavengers who have moderate risk work posture (81.5%) and moderate musculoskeletal disorders (84.6%). There was a positive correlation between working posture and MSDs with a moderate level (ρ=0.593; p=0.0001).Conclusion: Work postures that are formed away from the body's gravity which if done continuously and for a long period of time among waste pickers resulted in musculoskeletal disorders.

Design of Lifting Tool and Pressing Table at Tofu Factory X Considering to the Operator's Work Posture

The X Tofu Factory on of tofu factory located in Sumedang City. Based on the results of an interview with the owner of the X Tofu Factory, Owner stated that there were several problems that occurred at the X Tofu Factory. The main problem that occurs is the frequent occurrence of Musculoskeletal Disorder complaints caused by poor work posture and inadequate physical facilities. The purpose of this study was to design work aids to be used to lifting load at grinding work stations and posture when work at pressing station. Theories are used include design thinking for the design of work aids at milling work stations, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) to determine the risk score of work postures, Wisha Lifting Calculator (WLC) to determine the limiting index of lifting activities, and anthropometry for designing physical facilities in the form of a tofu moulding table. Data collection was carried out in the tofu production area by taking tool size data, the Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire, and actual anthropometric data. From the results of data processing and analysis of the problems above, the researchers proposed work aids to reduce REBA and Wisha scores, and physical facilities that were adjustable in height operator's anthropometric data.

A Study of the Effects of Handedness on Portable Angle Grinder Risk

This study investigates the underlying cause of occupational hazards for left-handed construction workers when using portable angle grinders on construction sites. The study was conducted through a survey of 42 participants in South Korean construction companies to gather information on their tasks involving portable angle grinders. The survey covered handle preferences, grip strength assessment, and work posture observations. Furthermore, a qualitative comparison of the work risk for left-handed and right-handed construction workers using a handheld angle grinder for cutting was conducted. Results showed that the grip strength of a left-handed worker’s dominant and non-dominant hands did not significantly vary, implying that grip strength does not significantly affect their work performance. However, left-handed workers exhibited a higher likelihood of accidents due to poor work postures. Improvements to workplace safety by ensuring the use of ambidextrous tools and promoting tailored safety measures and training for left-handed workers were recommended.

Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and analysis of working posture using rapid entire body assessment tool amongst the sewing machine operators in a garment industry: a cross sectional study

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are emerging problems and it occurs when there is a mismatch between the physical requirements of the job and the physical capacity of the human body. Study aimed to find out the prevalence of WMSDs, the influence of varied working posture and level of physical activity (PA) for the development of WMSDs amongst the sewing machine operators. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and conducted in a garment industry at Vapi, Gujrat. By purposive sampling technique, 100 sewing machine operators having minimum one year of experience, in the age group of 18-60 years were recruited with their consent. Örebro Musculoskeletal pain questionnaire (ÖMPQ), Rapid Entire Body Assessment tool (REBA), Quick Exposure Check tool (QEC) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was administered to all the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS 24 software. Descriptive statistics applied for categorical variables, Spearman Rank correlation coefficient (r) was calculated for the relationship between PA and WMSDs. Results: This study revealed the prevalence of WMSDs as 70% and low back pain was the commonest complaint. REBA demonstrated that 55% of participants were at high musculoskeletal risk and 44% were at very high risk. QEC identified that neck region had very high exposure risk for the development of WMSDs. The level of PA shows no association with WMSDs (r = 0.040, p=0.62). Conclusions: Sewing machine operators of this study adopted a poor working posture which corresponds to the development of high musculoskeletal risk and an increased prevalence of WMSDs.

Pengukuran Beban Kerja Fisik Menggunakan Cardiovascular Load dan Evaluasi Postur Kerja untuk Mengurangi Keluhan Muskuloskeletal

CV Dwi Jasa Logam is a company engaged in metal casting. This company places employees in jobs that are heavy on physical exertion in the production process, causing employees to get a high workload. In addition, many employees are elderly, causing them to feel tired more quickly. Employees who are placed on the job, need a longer rest time. When working, employees do not pay attention to work posture while working, so that poor work posture can cause musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to analyze the physical workload of employees, analyze musculoskeletal disorders in employees and evaluate employees' poor work posture. The methods used are Cardiovascular Load (CVL), Nordic Body Map (NBM), Ovako Work Analysis System (OWAS). The CVL method is used to calculate physical workload, the NBM questionnaire is used to measure musculoskeletal disorders and identify musculoskeletal disorders and the OWAS method is a method used to assess body posture when working, which is related to body parts such as the back, arms, legs and heavy loads. Based on the results of data processing using the CVL method, there are 20 employees who have a moderate workload level and 10 employees who have a low workload level. Data processing using the NBM questionnaire shows that 8 employees have the highest score in the high risk category, while 22 employee’s other employees have moderate risk categories and data processing using the OWAS method for 8 employees gets category 2 and 3 results, namely improvements need to be made.

Analisis Risiko Ergonomi Lingkungan Kerja Fisik pada Karyawan Kantor Menggunakan Metode Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA)

The use of computers is now inseparable from office work completion activities. The place where routine business or commerce takes place is the office. Workers are required to spend nearly all of their time operating the computer while seated in front of the monitor due to the computerized system for office work. Long-term computer use combined with improper posture can result in eye fatigue as well as muscle and back injuries and fatigue. Work stances like sitting, composing, and gazing at a PC screen will influence the state of being of representatives. Employee performance will suffer as a result of poor ergonomic work postures, which will put employees at risk and make them more likely to become exhausted. Based on the rapid office strain assessment method, this study was conducted to determine the ergonomic risk analysis of the physical work environment in the work posture of office employees. The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) analysis method was used in this observational descriptive study. A method for measuring ergonomic risk in the workplace at an office is the ROSA method. Perceptions were made to straightforwardly see the communication between work stances and office offices as office support components in 15 representatives who turned into the examination test. The findings revealed that 10 employees had a level of ergonomic risk that was low, while the remaining 5 employees had a level of ergonomic risk that was moderate. The reason for high ergonomic gamble lies in ergonomic offices that are not as per ergonomic standards and absence of representative mindfulness in making a solid work culture. Modernizing office facilities, spreading awareness of office ergonomics, and requiring employees to stretch are all necessary improvements.&#x0D; Keywords: Office Ergonomics, Ergonomic Risk, Rapid Office Strain Assessmentt, Work Posture

AN ANALYSIS USING OWAS METHOD FOR IMPROVING EMPLOYEE WORK POSTURE IN OMAH KANDANG SMES

Omah Kandang SMEs is a SMEs in Surakarta that produce handmade cat cages. The customer of Omah Kandang SMEs scattered in several cities in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the booming demand is still difficult for producer to provide these, it caused by unproductive employee because of poor working postures. This research aims to determine the level of work risk for the employee using OWAS Method and providing suggestions of ergonomics work posture for improving employee productivity. OWAS Method is a method used for body measurement with dividing work activities in several time interval to avoid musculoskeletal disorder risk. The codes in this method includes back, arms, legs and load/use factor. In this research is known that employee work posture in weaving station fall into the category 2. It means unsafe for musculoskeletal system and need an improvement in the future. It is recommended to provide table for ergonomics work posture, so the employee become more productive.

Effects of Using a Shoulder/Scapular Brace on the Posture and Muscle Activity of Healthy University Students during Prolonged Typing-A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial.

Laptop use appears to contribute to poor working postures and neck pain among university students. Postural braces have the potential to improve upper back/neck posture and therefore might have a role as an ergonomic aid for this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the short-term effects of scapular bracing on pain, fatigue, cervicothoracic posture, and the activity of the neck and upper-back muscles in healthy college students. A randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted to evaluate the self-reported pain and fatigue, the amplitude and median frequency of surface electromyography in neck extensors, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius, as well as the neck and shoulder sagittal alignment (measured by inertial sensors and digital photographs) during a 30-min typing task in a sample of young, healthy university students with or without a scapular brace. The brace condition resulted in significantly smaller levels of bilateral trapezius muscle activity (p < 0.01). Rounded shoulder posture was slightly better in the brace condition, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.05). There were no significant immediate differences in pain or fatigue scores, neck alignment, or the electromyographic activity of the other muscles tested between brace and non-brace conditions (all p > 0.05). However, bracing appears to immediately reduce the electromyographic activity of the lower trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). These findings shed some light on the possible advantages of scapular bracing for enhancing laptop ergonomics in this group of individuals. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the effects of different types of braces, the importance of matching the brace to the user, and the short- and long-term effects of brace use on computer posture and muscle activity.

LOW BACK PAIN AMONG OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common work–related health problems, affecting health care professionals. In Malaysia, research data on the prevalence of low back pain, and its associated risk factors, among occupational therapists, is currently lacking. In view of this situation this study is aimed at identifying the prevalence, associated risk factors, and effects of LBP, among occupational therapists in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study involves a total of 287 occupational therapists. The instruments used in this study include demographic information, a Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and an Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Data were collected online, and processed with the use of SPSS-21. This study revealed a high lifetime (79.4%), and one-year (71.1%) LBP prevalence among occupational therapists, in comparison to the point LBP prevalence (28.6%). The significant risk factors associated to LBP were identified as gender, exercise status, work stress level, and a poor working posture. Among those afflicted with LBP, 53.4% experienced a reduction in work activity, while 81.6% were affected by a minimal functional disability. A substantial proportion of occupational therapists in Malaysia, endure functional disability associated with LBP, which consequently has a negative effect on their leisure time and working life. As such, efforts should be directed at introducing multilevel interventions, for the prevention and control of LBP, in terms of this highly vulnerable occupational group.

An ergonomic evaluation of workers in the winding section of the pump manufacturing industry.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are prevalent and have an impact across occupations. However, there are very few studies that document the prevalence of WMSDs in the pump industry. In manufacturing industries, the common issue for WMSDs and physiological stress among the workers is caused by poor working posture. To investigate the occupational risks at the winding station in the pump manufacturing industry. In addition, this study examined the influence of work-study on mitigating occupational risks. Workers who were involved in circular coil winding and insulation testing were considered for the study. Awkward postures adopted while performing these tasks cause fatigue, injuries and WMSDs. Tasks were evaluated as per the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards. A work-study was conducted to better understand the workflow. Virtual ergonomic postural evaluation (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, RULA) was used to identify the occupational risks. Time taken for making circular windings and insulation testing (7.5 Hp submersible motor) was found to be 4.04 minutes and 0.95 minutes, respectively. A CAD model was used for ergonomic evaluation in the virtual environment. The RULA final score of 2 and 3 is attributed to coil winding and insulation testing. For further studies, the whole pump manufacturing process should be taken into account. The ergonomic tools used in this study will considerably reduce the occupation risks at the winding station in the pump manufacturing industry.

Relationship Between Nutritional Status and Work Posture with Work Fatigue on Crane Operators

Introduction: Work accidents can occur due to two factors, namely unsafe human behavior and unsafe environmental conditions. One of the unsafe human behavior is work fatigue. In addition, work fatigue can also reduce productivity so that it can have a bad impact on the company. This study aims to determine the strength of the relationship and the direction of the correlation between nutritional status and work postures with work fatigue on crane operators. Method: This research is included in the type of descriptive observational research with a cross-sectional approach. The sample of this study was taken using total sampling, namely all the population of 30 people. The independent variables in this study were nutritional status and body postures, while the dependent variable was work fatigue. The data were analyzed using the Spearman's correlation coefficient (Spearman rank's correlation coefficient) to see the value of the correlation coefficient. Results: The correlation coefficient between nutritional status and work fatigue was -0.169, which means there was a very weak relationship with a negative direction. Meanwhile, the strength of the relationship between work postures and work fatigue can be seen in the correlation coefficient of 0.671, which means there was a strong relationship with a positive direction. Conclusion: Workers with overweight and obese nutritional status wwere more relaxed at work and did not pursue daily targets so that the fatigue experienced was classified as moderate. In addition, poor work postures can cause severe work fatigue.

PERANCANGAN ALAT BANTU DENGAN METODE CONJOINT ANALYSIS DAN QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT (QFD) BERDASARKAN PRINSIP ERGONOMI

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The industrial sector in Indonesia has experienced rapid development in the last 10 years. The manufacturing industry is the sector that contributes the largest export value at USD 105.11 billion or Rp. 1,438 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 13,686/USD) during January to October 2019. PT. PJM is a manufacturing company that produces electrical panels. In production activities, PT. PJM still does a lot of work manually or Manual Material Handling (MMH) and has poor work postures. MMH activities and wrong and inappropriate work postures are the main sources of worker complaints that can pose ergonomic risks to workers. Ergonomics intervention in the design of assistive devices is carried out to help prevent the risk of MSDs and ergonomics in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to improve work posture and reduce the risk of MSDs in workers. The results of this study indicate that the highest exposure level is at the welding station, namely 60.79%, which is included in the category that needs further research and changes are made. However, after implementing the design of assistive devices at the welding station, there was a decrease in the exposure level value of 33.59%, which was included in the safe category. The implementation of the design of the tool has succeeded in improving the work posture and the risk of MSDs of workers at the welding station.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Assessment of the Working Posture among Dental Students to Prevent Musculosk ent Musculoskeletal Disor eletal Disorders

Poor working posture among dental practitioners has been known to cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which are made worse by lengthy procedures and a lack of awareness about the proper working posture. Objectives: To assess the working posture of clinical dental students to determine if interventions were needed to reduce MSDs. Methods: The working postures of 225 clinical dental students were recorded and assessed within 10 minutes into procedures from March-December 2019, using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. The results were then statistically analysed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Of the 225 students observed, 64 (28.4%; 95% CI: 23.1-35.7%) were classified as having RULA scores of 1-2 and 3-4, 141 (62.7%; 95% CI: 58.4- 65.7%) had RULA scores of 5-6 and 19 (8.4%; 95% CI:5.3-12.4%) had RULA scores of 7. Only one student had a RULA score of 1-2, where posture was considered acceptable. The working postures of the students in year 4 (P&lt;0.001) were worse than those of the students in the other clinical years. No significant difference was observed concerning gender variance. Conclusion: Students’ working postures should be evaluated frequently, and other tools, for example, dental loupes, should be provided to help them maintain good working postures

Enhancing Working Posture Comparability in Forest Operations by the Use of Similarity Metrics

Forest operations are well known in exposing their workers to many risk factors, and they often require ergonomic interventions for improvement. In this regard, evaluation of biomechanical exposure has gained a lot of interest due to the concerning scientific results repeatedly showing the association between poor working postures and the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Due to its simplicity, easy understanding, cost affordability, and the capability to evaluate the whole body, the OWAS method has been commonly used in postural evaluation of forestry work, being able to map the experimental observations in a final action category, in the form of a postural risk index (PRI), which helps designing or taking actions for ergonomic improvement. However, postural comparability is both relevant and important when, for instance, one tries to improve a work method or to introduce a new technology. Unfortunately, the PRI metric holds a rather low capability to characterize the changes brought by such factors in terms of postural dissimilarity or similarity, making it difficult to accurately follow the changes. For this reason, we introduce in the postural analysis, test and discuss herein two commonly used similarity metrics as specific to plant sociology and other ecology-related sciences, namely the Sørensen’s quotient of similarity (hereafter QS) and the Canberra metric (hereafter CM); their selection was based on their mathematical capabilities of dealing with data at two resolutions, namely species and individuals. Three case studies were setup to show the differences between QS, CM, and PRI and their usefulness for postural analysis while, for a better understanding, the results were described and discussed by analogy to the living world. As the technology of automating data collection and processing for postural analysis is in progress, the utility of similarity metrics in postural assessment and comparison could be further expanded so as to map a given work sequence in the time domain against best-fit postural profiles. The main conclusion of this study is that the PRI is useful for action-taking while the similarity metrics are useful for pairwise postural change evaluations and comparison.

Performance of Small-Scale Sawmilling Operations: A Case Study on Time Consumption, Productivity and Main Ergonomics for a Manually Driven Bandsaw

Sawmilling operations represent one of the most important phases of the wood supply chain, because they connect the conversion flow of raw materials into finite products. In order to maintain a high volume of processed wood, sawmills usually adopt different processing strategies in terms of equipment and methods, which can increase the value or volume of the lumber produced from logs. In this study, the performance of small-scale sawmilling operations was monitored, whilst also evaluating the exposure of workers to harmful factors. An assessment of time consumption, productivity, and main ergonomics was conducted during the use of a manually driven bandsaw. In addition, the exposure to noise was investigated to complement the knowledge in this regard. The results indicated a rather high time utilization in productive tasks, which may come at the expense of exposure to noise and to poor working postures. The modelling approach resulted in statistically significant time consumption models for different phases (blade adjustment, effective sawing, returning, unloading lumber, and loading and fixing lumber). The exposure to noise was close to 92 dB (A) (8 h) and, therefore, the level of emitted noise is likely to depend on the condition of the used blades, species sawn and on the dimensional characteristics of the logs. In terms of ergonomic risks, the poorest postures were those related to tasks such as moving the logs, loading the logs, fixing the logs, rotating and removing the logs, as well as unloading the lumber.

An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach for identifying the risk level of musculoskeletal disorders among handheld device users.

In work-from-home (WFH) situation due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the handheld device (HHD) users work in awkward postures for longer hours because of unavailability of ergonomically designed workstations. This problem results in different type of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the HHD users. An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach was offered for identifying the risk level of MSDs among HHD users. A case example implemented the proposed approach in which, firstly, the best–worst method (BWM) technique was used to prioritize and determine the relative importance (weightage) of the risk factors. The weightages of the risk factors further used to rank the seven alternatives (HHD users) using Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique. The outcomes of the BWM investigation showed that the three most significant risk factors responsible for MSDs are duration of working, poor working posture and un-ergonomic design. The outcome of the VIKOR technique exhibited that computer professionals were at the highest risk among all users. The risk factor priority must be used for designing a working strategy for the WFH situation which will help to mitigate the risks of MSDs.

THE EFFECT OF TRANSFER DISTANCE TO LOWER BACK TWISTING AND BENDING PATTERNS IN MANUAL TRANSFER TASK

Manual material handling (MMH) activities utilize human’s effort with minimal aid from mechanical devices. MMH is typically associated with poor lower back posture which can lead to lower back injury. The likelihood to develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) increases when poor working posture exist in combination with repetition and/or forceful exertion. In manual transfer activity, the distance between lifting origin and destination could affect workers’ exposure on poor lower back working posture. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of transfer distance to lower back twisting and bending pattern in manual transfer activity. Positional body joints data of 26 male subjects were captured using the combination of motion capture (MOCAP) system with MVN studio software. Calculated data were plotted against time to track subjects’ lower back twisting and bending behavior. In general, longer the transfer distance would result in smaller twisting angle but higher bending angle. Statistical analysis in this study suggests 0.75m to 1.00m as the optimum transfer distance to balance lower back twisting and bending exposure on workers. This study is envisioned to provide insights for practitioners to consider space requirements for MMH activity to minimize lower back twisting and bending, and consequently the development of MSDs.