Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders for Garments-Making Employees at Sewing Workplace
Keywords:
MSDs, Working environment, REBA, Ergonomic risk, REAL factoryAbstract
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) have become one of the main problems in the working environment, and it increases employees’ risk of illness. This health problem, however, may contribute to the long-run effects on production performance. The aim of this paper, therefore, was to assess the work-related MSDs for garments-making employees at the sewing workplace, Rivatex East Africa Limited (REAL), Eldoret, Kenya. In order to determine the working postures and identification of the hazard and risk factors of the MSD system depending on the working posture. Rapid Entire Body Analysis (REBA) was used to assess the ergonomic work-related MSDs. The analysis results of employee posture for the existing sewing workplace had a final REBA score of 5, which meant that there was a medium ergonomic risk of MSDs and changes needed. In conclusion, the findings from this paper showed that the existing sewing workplace at the REAL factory needs to be redesigned in order to reduce awkward postures and anthropometric mismatches to lower MSD problems and improve productivity among employees.
References
González-Muñoz, E. L., & Chaurand, R. Á. (2015). Analysis of the role of job stress in the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms, related with ergonomic factors. Procedia manufacturing, 3(12), 4964–4970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.642
Ebara, T., Khuvasanont, T., Krungkraiwong, S., Amornratanapaichit, R., Tachi, N., Takeyama, H., … & Itani, T. (2007). Impact of ISO/TS 20646-1 “ergonomic procedures for the improvement of local muscular workloads” on work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Industrial health, 45(2), 256–267. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.45.256
Bell, A. F., & Steele, J. R. (2012). Risk of musculoskeletal injury among cleaners during vacuuming. Ergonomics, 55(2), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2011.592605
Morse, T., Dillon, C., Kenta‐Bibi, E., Weber, J., Diva, U., Warren, N., & Grey, M. (2005). Trends in work‐related musculoskeletal disorder reports by year, type, and industrial sector: A capture‐recapture analysis. American journal of industrial medicine, 48(1), 40-49.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20182
Boschman, J. S., Frings-Dresen, M. H. W., & Van Der Molen, H. F. (2015). Use of ergonomic measures related to musculoskeletal complaints among construction workers: A 2-year follow-up study. Safety and health at work, 6(2), 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2014.12.003
Tebyetekerwa, M., Akankwasa, N. T., & Marriam, I. (2017). The current working conditions in ugandan apparel assembly plants. Safety and health at work, 8(4), 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2017.01.005
Gandavadi, A., Ramsay, J. R. E., & Burke, F. J. T. (2007). Assessment of dental student posture in two seating conditions using RULA methodology-A pilot study. British dental journal, 203(10), 601–605. https://doi.org/10.1038/bdj.2007.1047
Asadi, N., Choobineh, A., Keshavarzi, S., & Daneshmandi, H. (2015). A comparative assessment of manual load lifting using NIOSH equation and WISHA index methods in industrial workers of shiraz city. Journal health sci surveillance sys january, 3(1), 8–12. https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_42767.html
Bao, S., Howard, N., Spielholz, P., & Silverstein, B. (2007). Two posture analysis approaches and their application in a modified rapid upper limb assessment evaluation. Ergonomics, 50(12), 2118–2136. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130701458230
Dahibhate, G., Shinde, R., & Sakle, N. (2023). The use of digital human modeling in ergonomic design and product development. Journal of the institution of engineers (India): series C, 104(5), 1133–1138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40032-023-00982-5
Chen, J., Qiu, J., & Ahn, C. (2017). Construction worker’s awkward posture recognition through supervised motion tensor decomposition. Automation in construction, 77, 67–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.01.020
Braganca, S., Arezes, P., Carvalho, M., & Ashdown, S. (2014). 3D anthropometric data collection for occupational ergonomics purposes: A review. In Occupational safety and hygiene II (p. 393). CRC Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b16490-70
Kebede Deyyas, W., & Tafese, A. (2014). Environmental and organizational factors associated with elbow/forearm and hand/wrist disorder among sewing machine operators of garment industry in Ethiopia. Journal of environmental and public health, 2014(1), 732731.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/732731
Fazi, H. M., Mohamed, N. M. Z. N., Rashid, M. F. F. A., & Rose, A. N. M. (2016). Ergonomics study for workers at food production industry. MATEC web of conferences (Vol. 90, p. 1003). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20179001003
Dimberg, L., Goldoni Laestadius, J., Ross, S., & Dimberg, I. (2015). The changing face of office ergonomics. The ergonomics open journal, 8(1), 38–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1875934301508010038
Deros, B. M., Yusoff, A. R. M., Ismail, S. J., & Daruis, D. D. I. (2016). Optimizing workstation design for standing work system in an electronics assembly work. Iranian journal of public health, 45(1), 17–24. https://doaj.org/article/ee492f8606e04408a34eedb37fc63d56
Eswaramoorthi, M., John, M., Rajagopal, C. A., Prasad, P. S. S., & Mohanram, P. V. (2010). Redesigning assembly stations using ergonomic methods as a lean tool. Work, 35(2), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2010-0975
Parimalam, P., Kamalamma, N., & Ganguli, A. K. (2006). Ergonomic interventions to improve work environment in garment manufacturing units. Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 10(2), 74–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.27304
Martins, L., Ribeiro, B., Almeida, R., Pereira, H., Jesus, A., Quaresma, C., & Vieira, P. (2016). Optimization of sitting posture classification based on anthropometric data. International conference on health informatics (Vol. 6, pp. 406-413). SCITEPRESS. http://dx.doi.org/10.5220/0005790104060413
Merino-Salazar, P., Artazcoz, L., Cornelio, C., Iñiguez, M. J. I., Rojas, M., Martínez-Iñigo, D., … & Benavides, F. G. (2017). Work and health in Latin America: results from the working conditions surveys of Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Central America and Uruguay. Occupational and environmental medicine, 74(6), 432–439. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-103899
Marshall, M. M., & Armstrong, T. J. (2004). Observational assessment of forceful exertion and the perceived force demands of daily activities. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 14(4), 281–294. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOOR.0000047430.22740.57
Gómez-Galán, M., Pérez-Alonso, J., Callejón-Ferre, Á. J., & López-Martínez, J. (2017). Musculoskeletal disorders: OWAS review. Industrial health, 55(4), 314-337. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2016-0191
Vujica Herzog, N., & Buchmeister, B. (2015). The review of ergonomics analysis for body postures assessment. Katalinic B, editor, 153-164. http://dx.doi.org/10.2507/daaam.scibook.2015.14
Sha, Z. A., Amjad, A., Ashraf, M., Mushtaq, F., & Sheikh, I. (2016). Ergonomic risk factors for workers in garments manufacturing–A case study from Pakistan. Proceedings–international conference on industrial engineering and operations management (pp. 2580-2584). https://ieomsociety.org/ieom_2016/pdfs/291.pdf
Felipe, J., & McCombie, J. (2002). Why are some countries richer than others? A reassessment of Mankiw-Romer-Weil’s test of the neoclassical growth model. ERD working paper series, 81(19), 1–27.
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/1931
Rana, N. K., Shah, A. A., Iqbal, R., & Khanzode, V. (2022). Technology enabled ergonomic design: select proceedings of HWWE 2020. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-16-6982-8
Ning, X., Alessa, F., Almuhaidib, I., & Madinei, S. (2016). Ergonomic improvements applied in a steel manufacturing facility. Iron and steel technology, 13(11), 34–38. B2n.ir/m19112
Mohamad, D., Md Deros, B., Ismail, A. R., Daruis, D. D. I., & Sukadarin, E. H. (2013). RULA analysis of work-related disorder among packaging industry worker using digital human modeling (DHM). In Advanced engineering forum (Vol. 10, pp. 9-15). Trans Tech Publications Ltd. https://www.scientific.net/AEF.10.9
Halpern, C. A., & Dawson, K. D. (1997). Design and implementation of a participatory ergonomics program for machine sewing tasks. International journal of industrial ergonomics, 20(6), 429-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-8141(96)00070-4
Shah, Z. A., Amjad, A., Ashraf, M., Mushtaq, F., & Sheikh, I. A. (2016). Prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and awkward posture in a Pakistani garments manufacturing industry. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 1, 75-79. B2n.ir/u72485
Kvs, R., & Subramanya, K. N. (2014). Ergonomic Evaluation of the Work Stations in a Garment Manufacturing Industry-an Exploratory Study. International journal of mechanical and production engineering, (24), 2320–2092. https://B2n.ir/m70733
Norhidayah, M. S., Nik Mohamed, N. M. Z., Mansor, M. A., & Ismail, A. R. (2016). RULA: Postural loading assessment tools for Malaysia mining industry. Journal of engineering science and technology, 11(4), 1–8. https://myjurnal.mohe.gov.my/public/article-view.php?id=101977
Esmaeel, A., Starovoytova, D., & Ochola, J. (2024). Design and simulation ergonomically sewing chair for garment manufacturing workers. Innovative systems design and engineering, 14(1), 67–87. https://doi.org/10.7176/ISDE/14-1-07
Saguyod, P. J. V., Villapando, A. C., & Gumasing, M. J. J. (2021). An ergonomic workstation design for apparel manufacturing workers in the Philippines. Proceedings of the international conference on industrial engineering and operations management, 2497–2504. https://doi.org/10.46254/an11.20210467
Esmaeel, A., Starovoytova, D., Nziu, P., & Ochola, J. (2024). Work-Related Risks and Hazards for Garment Making Workers at Sewing Workstations: A Review. Innovative systems design and engineering, 14(1), 48–66. https://doi.org/10.7176/ISDE/14-1-06
Sealetsa, O. J., & Thatcher, A. (2011). Ergonomics issues among sewing machine operators in the textile manufacturing industry in Botswana. Work, 38(3), 279–289. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2011-1131
Ahmed, F. (2018). Improving workplace safety through ergonomic intervention- A case study of a readymade garment industry. Bangladesh university of engineering & technology. http://lib.buet.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5037
Leilanie Del Prado-Lu, J. (2004). Risk factors to musculoskeletal disorders and anthropometric measurements of filipino manufacturing workers. International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics, 10(4), 349–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2004.11076618
Habib, M. M. (2015). Ergonomic risk factor identification for sewing machine operators through supervised occupational therapy fieldwork in Bangladesh: A case study. Work, 50(3), 357-362. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-151991
Deros, B. M., Khamis, N. K., Ismail, A. R., Jamaluddin, H., Adam, A. M., & Rosli, S. (2011). An ergonomics study on assembly line workstation design. American journal of applied sciences, 8(11), 1195–1201. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2011.1195.1201
Wang, P. C., Harrison, R. J., Yu, F., Rempel, D. M., & Ritz, B. R. (2010). Follow‐up of neck and shoulder pain among sewing machine operators: The Los Angeles garment study. American journal of industrial medicine, 53(4), 352-360. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20790
Hamid, A., Ahmad, A. S., Dar, S., Sohail, S., Akram, F., & Qureshi, M. I. (2018). Ergonomics hazards and musculoskeletal disorders among workers of health care facilities. Current world environment, 13(2), 251-258. https://doi.org/10.12944/cwe.13.2.10
Sharan, D., & Ajeesh, P. S. (2012). Correlation of ergonomic risk factors with RULA in IT professionals from India. Work, 41(Supplement 1), 512-515. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0205-512
Burgess-Limerick, R. (2018). Participatory ergonomics: Evidence and implementation lessons. Applied ergonomics, 68, 289-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.12.009
Patil, G. G., Yadav, R., Nadiger, V. G., Raichurkar, P. P., Chandrakar, K., & Chandurkar, P. (2017). Textile apparel industry: A responsibilty towards manpower. Colourage, 64(6), 38–46. https://B2n.ir/e36746
Al Madani, D., & Dababneh, A. (2016). Rapid entire body assessment: A literature review. American journal of engineering and applied sciences, 9(1), 107–118. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajeassp.2016.107.118
Hambali, R. H., Rahim, S. A. A., Azizan, N., Zali, Z., Akmal, S., & Zin, M. H. (2019). Analysis the awkward posture ergonomic risk and workstation improvement simulation in mechanical assembly manufacturing industry using delmiav5. IOP conference series: materials science and engineering (Vol. 705, p. 012044). IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/705/1/012044
Iriondo Pascual, A., Högberg, D., Syberfeldt, A., Brolin, E., & Hanson, L. (2020). Optimizing ergonomics and productivity by connecting digital human modeling and production flow simulation software. SPS2020 (pp. 193–204). IOS Press. https://doi.org/ 10.3233/ATDE200157
Hignett, S., & McAtamney, L. (1995). Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). Applied ergonomics, 31, 201-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-6870(99)00039-3
Ansari, N. A., & Sheikh, D. M. J. (2014). Evaluation of work posture by RULA and REBA: A case study. IOSR journal of mechanical and civil engineering, 11(4), 18–23. https://doi.org/10.9790/1684-11431823
Wibowo, A. H., & Mawadati, A. (2021). The analysis of employees’ work posture by using rapid entire body assessment (REBA) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA). IOP conference series: earth and environmental science, 704(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/704/1/012022
Jadhav, G. S., Shinde, G., Sawant, S. M., & Jamadar, V. (2014). Ergonomic evaluation tools rula and reba analysis: case study. Conference: national conference on industrial engineering and technology managementat. NITIE. B2n.ir/k16860
Mercado, S. M. (2015). Ergonomic design measures on work process and workplace layout in the selected structural and fabrication shops. Asia pacific journal of multidisciplinary research, 3(4), 86–97. https://www.apjmr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/APJMR-2015-3.4.3.11.pdf
Isler, M., Küçük, M., & Guner, M. (2018). Ergonomic assessment of working postures in clothing sector with scientific observation methods. International journal of clothing science and technology, 30(6), 757–771. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-06-2017-0084
Beatrix, M. E. (2021). Analysis of rapid entire body assessment ( REBA ) & nordic body map ( NBM ) methods to reduce low back pain ( LBP ) in the stamping and tooling company. IOSR journal of reserach & method in education, 11(2), 49–54. https://doi.org/10.9790/7388-1102034954
McAtamney, L., & Hignett, S. (2004). Rapid entire body assessment. Handbook of human factors and ergonomics methods, 31, 8-1-8–11. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780203489925.ch8
Fan, C., Mei, Q., Yang, Q., & Li, X. (2022). Computer-vision based rapid entire body analysis (REBA) estimation. Modular and offsite construction (MOC) summit proceedings, 90–97. https://doi.org/10.29173/mocs269
Lawlor, C. E., & Hamilton, D. (2007). T71 The use of rapid entire body assessment (REBA) for the quantification of manual handling risks. Nuclear medicine communications, 28(3), A38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006231-200703000-00145
Hepsiba, P. Sh. & Gnanaraj, D. (2009). Computer aided rapid entire body assessment (CAREBA). Conference: international ergonomics conference humanizing work and work environmentat: university of calcutta, india. University of Calcutta, Press. B2n.ir/t37213
Kusuma, T. Y. T. (2020). Analysis of body posture using rapid entire body assessment (REBA) and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) to improve the posture of sand paper machine operators and reduce the risk of low back pain. Biology, medicine, & natural product chemistry, 9(1), 21–25. https://doi.org/10.14421/biomedich.2020.91.21-25
Ahmad, A., Javed, I., Abrar, U., Ahmad, A., Jaffri, N. R., & Hussain, A. (2021). Investigation of ergonomic working conditions of sewing and cutting machine operators of clothing industry. Industria textila, 72(3), 309–314. https://doi.org/10.35530/IT.072.03.1723
Metrics
