Postural Loading Assessment in Assembly Workers of an Iranian Telecommunication Manufacturing Company

Background. Changes in industries and work practices have coincided with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MSDs and to assess postural loading in assembly workers of an Iranian telecommunication manufacturing company. Methods. Data were collected from 193 randomly selected workers in 4 units of the company. The Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire and the UBC ergonomic checklist were used as data collection tools. Loading on the upper body assessment (LUBA) was used to assess postural loading. Results. Lower back symptoms were the most prevalent problems among the workers (67.9%). LUBA showed that most assembly workers (94.3%) had experienced considerable and high postural loading (postural load index, PLI > 5). Regression analyses revealed that lighting, rotation, contact stress, repetition, gender and age were factors associated with symptoms. Conclusion. Work-related MSDs occurred at a high rate among workers. Postural loading requires consideration. Any ergonomic intervention should focus on eliminating ergonomic factors associated with symptoms.     

搬运作业能量消耗模型及仿真研究

为预防手工搬运工人因疲劳引发的职业性肌肉骨骼损伤(WMSDs),综合考虑生产效率和人因工程2个因素,提出考虑搬运时间和能量消耗的双目标模型;采用IGRIP/ERGO和Matlab软件,设计交互式仿真平台;以某汽车刹车片制造公司的手工搬运作业(MMH)为例,应用上述模型进行模拟仿真,得出最优解。结果表明:投入材料数量和生产工序均对能量消耗和作业时间有显著影响,并且能耗和时间的变化率负相关;该模型兼顾生产效率和人因工程2个因素,能够得出最优作业方案;交互式仿真平台有助于控制并预防现代工业生产中的WMSDs风险,使工作环境和作业设计达到人因工程要求。