title: Musculoskeletal disorders caused by gas cylinder handling tasks: A case study report.
abstract: This case study used the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to explore work that involves handling gas cylinders and to determine risk factors that may cause related injuries. The NMQ survey was distributed to 100 gas cylinder handlers in Taiwan, and their handling tasks were analyzed. The results showed that the overall prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 91% within 1 year. More than half of the respondents (62%) experienced shoulder discomfort, followed by lower back/waist (57%) and neck (47%) discomfort. Daily work hours (>10 h) were primary factors influencing the development of discomfort when handling gas cylinders, whereas the daily delivery frequency (>30 deliveries) was relevant to the prevalence of lower limb discomfort. Individual factors also substantially influenced upper body, lower back/waist, and knee discomfort (i.e., age, job tenure, and exercise). The findings of this study can serve as references in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders caused by performing gas cylinder handling tasks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Industrial Design, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Lang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiao-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Da-Yung
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Gas cylinder; Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ); handling task