Abstract
Construction industry is one of the risky industries in which the chances for developing musculoskeletal disorders or discomforts (MSDs ) are very high among the workers. Based on the literature review, one of the most significant risk factors is awkward posture during the work tasks. In addition, not much reported research in detail is available for the causes of their musculoskeletal disorders or discomforts. Among the various categories of workers in the construction industry, a special and skilled workforce which is normally neglected is the “Bar Benders”. This paper investigates the prevalence of symptoms of MSD through a questionnaire survey and also attempts to build a relation of working postures and MSD through postural assessment tools, among the bar benders. A questionnaire survey was carried out on 25 bar benders to assess the MSD and from the compilation of results, the shoulder, knee, and upper back were the body parts most commonly reported for work-related MSD. Further, with the help of postural assessment tools, i.e., REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) and RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment), the working postures of the selected bar benders were analyzed and the risk level of various postures (in total 25) were determined. From the results of the postural assessment , most of the working postures analyzed were at high or medium risk and recommended for changing the posture. Furthermore, remedial and corrective measures were suggested so as to improve the health and safety of the workers.
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Appendix 6.1: Questionnaire Survey
Appendix 6.1: Questionnaire Survey
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Part 1: General information
1 | Gender | |
|---|---|---|
2 | Age | |
3 | Job title | |
4 | How long have you been doing your present type of work? | |
5 | On average how many hours per shift do you work? | |
6 | How long is the time for rest breaks? | |
7 | Weight | |
8 | Height | |
9 | Do you have health problem |
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Part 2: This part of survey is designed to determine the musculoskeletal symptoms among the workers
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1.
Have you ever been prevented from doing normal work (at home or away from home) because of MSD?
Yes ☐ No ☐
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2.
Where was this pain or discomfort?
______________________________
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3.
Did you see a doctor because of pain?
Yes ☐ No ☐
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4.
Have you took leave because of this pain?
Yes ☐ No ☐
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5.
What caused the pain?
______________________________
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6.
What is the intensity of pain/discomfort?
______________________________
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7.
How frequent the pain comes?
______________________________
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8.
Do you feel any special kind of actions increases your pain? If yes, describe.
______________________________
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Drisya, S., Das, B.B., Parida, R. (2018). Ergonomic Evaluation of Bar Benders in Construction Industry. In: Ray, P., Maiti, J. (eds) Ergonomic Design of Products and Worksystems - 21st Century Perspectives of Asia. Managing the Asian Century. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5457-0_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5457-0_6
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