Enter your email address
Submit
Write your message
Volume 10, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2023)
Iran J Ergon 2023, 10(4): 299-308 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Karami Z, Naserzadeh Z, Mahdavi N. Investigating the Anthropometric Fit of Scientific-Research Laboratory Technicians with Their Workstations: A Case Study in Hamedan University of Medical Sciences. Iran J Ergon 2023; 10 (4) :299-308
URL: http://journal.iehfs.ir/article-1-929-en.html
URL: http://journal.iehfs.ir/article-1-929-en.html
1- HSE Department, Mehr Alborz Institute of Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Industrial Safety & HSE Engineering, Allameh Qazvini University, Qazvin, Iran
3- Department of Ergonomics, Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,nmahdavi1@yahoo.com
2- Department of Industrial Safety & HSE Engineering, Allameh Qazvini University, Qazvin, Iran
3- Department of Ergonomics, Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ,
Abstract: (1291 Views)
Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) induced by work are common in laboratory jobs. One of the most important reasons for disorders is the lack of personal fit with a workstation. This study aims to evaluate the body posture of experts in scientific-research labs and explore their anthropometric fitness with workstations on the campus of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2022.
Methods: To investigate the MSD prevalence associated with the work, it was used the Nordic questionnaire and, for evaluating the posture, the Novel Ergonomic Postural Assessment (NERPA) technique. Then, to check the compatibility of laboratory personnel with the workstations, some interventions were proposed to improve them.
Results: According to the findings, the highest amount of prevalence of pain over the past year was in the neck area, 68.7%, and waist area, 59.37%, respectively. To assess the body posture using the NERPA technique, the middle level of corrective actions as well as more research was required. Also, the highest score of the risk, i.e. 40.62%, was allowed to the neck. In most activities, there was not any match between the dimensions of the personal body and the workstation.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the prevalence of MSD symptoms is high among the experts in research laboratories, and the risk levels of ergonomic assessment are in the middle. It seems that the lack of anthropometric matches with the workstation generally has led to adverse work posture and thus, the prevalence of MSD disorders. So, providing anthropometric matches between people who work in research laboratories and their workstations is essential to reducing these disorders.
Methods: To investigate the MSD prevalence associated with the work, it was used the Nordic questionnaire and, for evaluating the posture, the Novel Ergonomic Postural Assessment (NERPA) technique. Then, to check the compatibility of laboratory personnel with the workstations, some interventions were proposed to improve them.
Results: According to the findings, the highest amount of prevalence of pain over the past year was in the neck area, 68.7%, and waist area, 59.37%, respectively. To assess the body posture using the NERPA technique, the middle level of corrective actions as well as more research was required. Also, the highest score of the risk, i.e. 40.62%, was allowed to the neck. In most activities, there was not any match between the dimensions of the personal body and the workstation.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the prevalence of MSD symptoms is high among the experts in research laboratories, and the risk levels of ergonomic assessment are in the middle. It seems that the lack of anthropometric matches with the workstation generally has led to adverse work posture and thus, the prevalence of MSD disorders. So, providing anthropometric matches between people who work in research laboratories and their workstations is essential to reducing these disorders.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal disease, Anthropometry, Laboratory personnel, Novel ergonomic postural assessment (NERPA)
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Anthropometry
Received: 2023/01/4 | Accepted: 2023/03/18 | ePublished: 2023/03/18
Received: 2023/01/4 | Accepted: 2023/03/18 | ePublished: 2023/03/18
References
1. Morse T, Bruneau H, Michalak-Turcotte C, Sanders M, Warren N, Dussetschleger J, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulder in dental hygienists and dental hygiene students. J Dent Hyg. 2007;81(1):10. [PubMed]
2. David GC. Ergonomic methods for assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Occup Med (Lond). 2005;55(3):190-9. [DOI] [PubMed]
3. Statistics BoL. Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work. Washington, DC: Bureau of Labor Statistics; 2013. p. 1-33.
4. Ergonomic injury statistics and trends in 2023 • GITNUX. [Online]. [cited 2023 Jun 24]; Available from: URL: https://blog.gitnux.com/ergonomic-injury-statistics
5. Sadeghi Naeini H, Zolfaghari M. Ergonomic evaluation of workstations in industry with emphasis on economic considerations (Case study: automotive industry) [in Persian]. Iran J Ergon. 2020;8(3):85-93. [DOI]
6. Choobineh A, Tabatabaei SH, Mokhtarzadeh A, Salehi M. Musculoskeletal problems among workers of an Iranian rubber factory. J Occup Health. 2007;49(5):418-23. [DOI] [PubMed]
7. Choobineh A, Tabatabaee SH, Behzadi M. Musculoskeletal problems among workers of an Iranian sugar-producing factory. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2009;15(4):419-24. [DOI] [PubMed]
8. Mazloumi A, Mehrdad R, Kazemi Z, Vahedi Z, Hajizade L. Risk factors of work related musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian workers during 2000-2015. J Heal Saf Work. 2021;11(3):395-416.
9. Mojaverrostami S, Najibi A, Mokhtari T, Malekzadeh M, Hassanzadeh G. The importance and application of anthropometry in medical sciences and related industries: A narrative review [in Persian]. JRUMS. 2019;18(6):589-606. [Article]
10. Putsa B, Jalayondeja W, Mekhora K, Bhuanantanondh P, Jalayondeja C. Factors associated with reduced risk of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers: a cross-sectional study 2017 to 2020. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1503. [DOI] [PubMed]
11. Mesbah F, Choobineh A, Tozihian T, Jafari P, Naghib-alhosseini F, Shidmosavi M, et al. Ergonomic intervention effect in reducing musculoskeletal disorders in staff of Shiraz Medical School [in Persian]. IOH. 2012;9(1):41-51.
12. Caskey CR. Ergonomics in the clinical laboratory. Clin Lab Sci. 1999;12(3):140-4. [PubMed]
13. Haile EL, Taye B, Hussen F. Ergonomic workstations and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the clinical laboratory. Lab Med. 2012;43(2):e11-9. [DOI]
14. Oladeinde BH, Ekejindu IM, Omoregie R, Aguh OD. Awareness and knowledge of ergonomics among medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2015;5(6):423-7. [DOI] [PubMed]
15. Choobineh A, Lahmi M, Shahnavaz H, Khani Jazani R, Hosseini M. Musculoskeletal symptoms as related to ergonomic factors in Iranian hand-woven carpet industry and general guidelines for workstation design. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2004;10(2):157-68. [DOI] [PubMed]
16. Sanchez-Lite A, Garcia M, Domingo R, Sebastian MA. Novel ergonomic postural assessment method (NERPA) using product-process computer aided engineering for ergonomic workplace design. PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e72703. [DOI] [PubMed]
17. Khandan M, Vosoughi S, Poursadeghiyan M, Azizi F, Ahounbar E, Koohpaei A. Ergonomic assessment of posture risk factors among Iranian workers: An alternative to conventional methods. Iran Rehabil J. 2018;16(1):11-6. [DOI]
18. Environment and Work Health Center. A guide to static anthropometric indices for Iranian Workers. In Tehran [in Persian]; 2017. p. 5455.
19. Digimizer Image Analysis Software. [Online]. [cited 2023 Jun 26]; Available from: URL: https://www.digimizer.com/
20. Norasi H, Tetteh E, Sarker P, Mirka GA, Hallbeck MS. Exploring the relationship between neck flexion and neck problems in occupational populations: a systematic review of the literature. Ergonomics. 2022;65(4):587-603. [DOI] [PubMed]
21. Shreya M, De A, Iqbal R. Work related musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory technicians. Proceeding of the 2012 Southeast Asian Network of Ergonomics Societies Conference, SEANES 2012. [2012 July 9-12]; Langkawi, Malaysia.
22. Mukhtad AA, Abdulkareem Aminese H, Mansor MA, Salam Mansour H, Elmesmary HA. Ergonomic risk assessment among healthcare laboratory technicians in Benghazi Medical Centr. IJARnD. 2018;3(3):318-27.
23. Ganjave PD, Shikrapurkar S. Ergonomic risk assessment in clinical laboratory technicians. Elem Educ Online. 2022;20(1):5531-42. [DOI]
24. Lorusso A, Bruno S, Caputo F, L’Abbate N. Fattori di rischio per disturbi muscolo-scheletrici in lavoratori che utilizzano il microscopio [in Italian]. G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2007; 29(4):932-7. [PubMed]
25. Penkala S, El-Debal H, Coxon K. Work-related musculoskeletal problems related to laboratory training in university medical science students: a cross sectional survey. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1208. [DOI] [PubMed]
26. Environment and Work Health Center. A guide to musculoskeletal disorders prevention in office works. In Tehran [in persian]; 2011. p. 850.
27. Ghasemi F, Hasini M, Ahmadi M, Rahmiani-IranShahi M. The relationship between working posture and anthropometric compatibility with workstations: A case study among sewing operators [in Persian]. Iran J Ergon. 2021;8(4):15-30. [DOI]
28. Ho DTK. The prevalence, causes and prevention of occupational musculoskeletal disorders. Glob J Med Sci. 2022;4(2):56-68 [DOI]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
Copyright Policy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
