The effects of ergonomic interventions in manual activities to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in manual activities by ManTRA

Introduction: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) occur when the pressure that applied to musculoskeletal tissue is more than tissue tolerant capabilities. This study aimed at assessing the risk factors that cause musculoskeletal disorders associated with manual tasks, using ManTRA, and conducting an ergonomic intervention program (educational engineering) among workers in the printing industry. Methods: In this interventional case-control study, 40 workers, who performed manual tasks, (20 in the case group and 20 in the control group) were chosen and investigated. Nordic Body Map was used to determine the intensity and position of pain in different parts of the body. The ManTRA method was performed to evaluate cumulative scores in four regions of the body (wrist/hand/arm, shoulder/neck, back, and lower limb) for each worker before and after the intervention. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software. Results: Data analysis showed that mean intensity of pain in the control group before and after the intervention in various regions of the body, such as head/neck (P = 0.012), right shoulder/arm (P = 0.012), left shoulder/arm (P = 0.043), back (P = 0.003), right hand/ wrist (P = 0.028), left hand/wrist (P = 0.027), right knee/hip (P = 0.005), left knee/hip (P = 0.005), right leg (P = 0.012) and left leg (P = 0.028) were significant. Cumulative score was also significant in body regions such as arm/wrist/hand (P = 0.001) and shoulder/ neck (P = 0.001) before and after the interventional program. Conclusions: On the basis of the findings of this study, it could be noted that the ergonomic interventional program was effective for reducing the intensity of pain in various regions of the body and risk factors causing cumulative damage at the workplace. Received: 12/07/2016 Accepted: 15/01/2017

[1]  Kelly DeRango,et al.  The effects of an office ergonomics training and chair intervention on worker knowledge, behavior and musculoskeletal risk. , 2009, Applied ergonomics.

[2]  B. McKenzieAlison.  Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders , 1995 .

[3]  H. Hosseini Nasab,et al.  An Ergonomic Evaluation and Intervention Model: Macro ergonomic approach , 2012 .

[4]  L Straker,et al.  A randomized and controlled trial of a participative ergonomics intervention to reduce injuries associated with manual tasks: physical risk and legislative compliance , 2004, Ergonomics.

[5]  N. Awolola,et al.  6 Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders , 2014 .

[6]  Huey Shy Lai.  Ergonomic Intervention to Reduce the Risk ofMusculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) for ManualMaterials Handling Tasks , 2008 .

[7]  R Attewell,et al.  Self-reported symptoms in the neck and upper limbs of female assembly workers. Impact of length of employment, work pace, and selection. , 1989, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[8]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  Occupational Ergonomics : Engineering and Administrative Controls , 2003 .

[9]  Mark W. Johnston,et al.  The role of emotional exhaustion in sales force attitude and behavior relationships , 1999 .

[10]  B. Krol,et al.  The effects of occupational interventions on reduction of musculoskeletal symptoms in the nursing profession , 2006, Ergonomics.

[11]  Mohammad Bagher Fakhrzad,et al.  Macro Ergonomics Interventions and their Impact on Productivity and Reduction of Musculoskeletal disorders: Including a Case Study , 2012 .

[12]  Sadra Abarghouei Naser.  COMPREHENSIVE ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVING ERGONOMIC CONDITIONS IN AN AUTOMOBILE SPARE PART MANUFACTURING PLANT: A CASE STUDY PRINT , 2015 .

[13]  Bente E. Moen,et al.  Effects of a training program to improve musculoskeletal health among industrial workers—effects of supervisors role in the intervention , 2002 .

[14]  D. Rempel,et al.  A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of two workstation interventions on upper body pain and incident musculoskeletal disorders among computer operators , 2006, Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

[15]  Waldemar Karwowski,et al.  The occupational ergonomics handbook , 2006 .

[16]  E. Kelloway,et al.  Development and test of a model linking safety-specific transformational leadership and occupational safety. , 2002, The Journal of applied psychology.

[17]  Svend Erik Mathiassen,et al.  Systematic evaluation of observational methods assessing biomechanical exposures at work. , 2010, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.