Investigation on Working Postures and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Office Workers in Putrajaya

Abstract:

The cross-sectional study was conducted amongst thirty eight government supporting staff who mainly doing sedentary task in Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Affair Division (MMEAD) (49%) and Ministry of Health (MOH) (51%) in Putrajaya. The investigation aims to determine the association between working postures and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among office workers where all respondents were selected in 5 sections; administrative (64%), financial (12%), counter/assistant (12%), human resources management (6%) and procurement section (6%). Self-reported questionnaires using Nordic questionnaire were used in this investigation. Besides, posture analysis was done based on Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and office ergonomics checklist adapted from Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation (2008) were used as the instrumentations of this investigation. Face validity and reliability testing for the questionnaire and intra tester reliability for the posture assessment was done to ensure true quality of the results and analysis. From the analysis, the highest prevalence of MSD complained is lower back pain (LBP) 57.9% while the lowest prevalence is elbow pain (EP) 2.6%. Result shows 31.6% of the respondents believe the pain is caused by working activities. Based on the ergonomics checklist, MMEAD shows the highest mean (64.84%) of non compliance, where all the workstations scored more than 50% compared with MOH. Based on RULA observation, most of the workstation scores in action level 3 (grand score 5-6). In conclusion, the high complained of MSD is due to awkward postures, unsuitable workstation and lack of knowledge related to the areas to apply in everyday routine and it shows that working postures have a direct contribution on MSD complained by the office workers in Putrajaya.

• Periodical: Advanced Engineering Forum (Volume 10)
• Pages: 308-312
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AEF.10.308
• Online since: December 2013
• Authors: Che Hazwani Che Mansor, Safial Eqbal Zakaria*, Siti Zawiah Md Dawal
• Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD), Office Ergonomics, Working Posture

References

[1] Morse, T. F., Waren, N., Dillon, C. and Diva, U. A population based survey of ergonomics risk factors in Connecticut: distribution by industry, occupation and demography. Conn. Med. 71(5) (2007) 261-8.

[2] Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Malaysia. Guideline on occupational safety and health for working with video display units (VDU'S) (2003).

[3] Department of Safety and Health, DOSH. Malaysia Occupational Safety and Health Profile (2010).

[4] Diniz, F., Fernanda, D. d., Maria, A. A., Ana, C. C., Juliana, C. S., & Paulo, J. A. Comparison of methods RULA and REBA for evaluation of postural stress in odontological services. 3rd International Conference on Production Research - Americas' Region (ICPR-AM06) (2006).

[5] Hignett, S., & Atamney, L. M. REBA and RULA: Whole body and upper limb rapid tools. In W. S. Marras, & W. Karwowski (Eds. ), Fundamentals and Assessmnet Tools for Occupational Ergonomics (2nd ed., pp.1-12). Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis Group (2006).

DOI: 10.1201/9781420003635-46

[6] Atamney, L. M., & Corlett, E. N. RULA: A Survey Method for the Investigation of Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders. Applied Ergonomics , 24, (1993) 91-99.

DOI: 10.1016/0003-6870(93)90080-s

[7] Shamsul Bahri, M. T., Muhammad Aahar, M. N., Mohd Rafee, B. B., Nurul Asyiqin, M. A. And Ng, Y. G. Ergonomics risk factors and health effects among visual display unit (VDU) users among Malaysian Government servants. Journal of Medical Safety, (2009).