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

Authors : Baba Md DEROS, Dian Darina İndah DARUİS, Athirah Liyana ROSLY, İlhami Abd AZİZ, Nor Syazwani HİSHAMUDDİN, Nur Hidayah Abd HAMİD, Siti Maisarah ROSLİN

Pages : 317-324

Doi:10.17261/Pressacademia.2017.606

View : 17 | Download : 24

Publication Date : 2017-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study investigates ergonomic risks faced by manual material handling insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(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 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MNQ);, Rapid Entire Body Assessment insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(REBA); and NIOSH Lifting Equation. MNQ result showed the MMH workers’ body parts that suffered pain are shoulders insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(63.6%);, upper back insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(54.5%); and lower back insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(45.4%);. The movements, which recorded high REBA score insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(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 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(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