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Volume 10, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Ergonomics 2023)
Iran J Ergon 2023, 10(4): 299-308 |
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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: (1292 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
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