An ergonomic intervention to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort among semiconductor assembly workers.
BACKGROUND
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and ergonomics-related injuries are the single largest category of workplace injuries and are responsible for almost 30% of all worker's compensation costs. Awkward working posture refers to positions of the body that deviate significantly from the neutral position while job tasks are being performed and it is the primary ergonomic risk factor for developing musculoskeletal discomfort.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted among assembly workers of a semiconductor in Tehran province with the objective of implementing an interventional ergonomic program to minimize musculoskeletal discomfort.


METHODS
This study that was conducted on 105 male assembly workers of a semiconductor industry based on a census method. The standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to determine the prevalence of MSDs. Corlett and Bishop's body part discomfort scale (BPD) was applied to evaluate body discomfort before and after the intervention (using a magnifying loupes to improve visibility of the parts).


RESULTS
The results of NMQ showed the highest rate of MSDs were in neck, shoulder, upper arm and lower back regions (more than 75%). After ergonomic intervention, significant decrements of discomfort was observed in neck, shoulder, upper arm, elbows, lower arm, lower back and whole body discomfort (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that using magnifying loupes reduced discomfort in different body regions and the whole body. A conclusion of this research is that ergonomic interventions can decrease MSDs of at risk body regions in the long term.
Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mashallah
M
Aghilinejad
Master of Rehabilitation Management, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Neda Soleimanvandy
NS
Azar
Department of Ergonomics, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Sadegh
MS
Ghasemi
Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Naser
N
Dehghan
Occupational Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Elahe Kabir
EK
Mokamelkhah
D000328:Adult; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011187:Posture; D012666:Semiconductors
Musculoskeletal disorders; body part discomfort; magnification lenses