ERGONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF MANUAL MATERIAL HANDLING AT AN AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Year 2017, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 317 - 324, 30.06.2017

Baba Md Deros Dian Darina İndah Daruis Athirah Liyana Rosly İlhami Abd Aziz Nor Syazwani Hishamuddin Nur Hidayah Abd Hamid Siti Maisarah Roslin

https://doi.org/10.17261/Pressacademia.2017.606

Abstract

This study investigates ergonomic risks faced by manual material
handling (MMH) workers performing repetitive loads carrying, holding, lifting,
lowering, pushing and pulling activities. A total of 11 MMH workers was
recruited to participate in the study. Methods used to collect data were Modified Nordic
Questionnaire (MNQ), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and NIOSH Lifting
Equation. MNQ result showed the MMH workers’ body parts that suffered pain are
shoulders (63.6%), upper back (54.5%) and lower back (45.4%). The movements, which
recorded high REBA score (i.e. 9) are twisting, lowering and lifting, which is
considered as high risk. Based on NIOSH Lifting Equation, the value of RWL for MMH tasks is 15.82 and the lifting index (LI) is 0.73.
The recommended control measures to be implemented in Company X include to
limit the working time, administrative control, training, and reduce the weight
of the load carried and lifted by the MMH workers.  

Keywords

Ergonomics, manual handling, REBA, NIOSH, MNQ

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