Risk Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Bandar-Abbas Charging Berth Workers Using MAC Method in 2011

As charging berths in Bandar-Abbas are the most important places for handling and moving of products and hundreds of workers carry and move petroleum and non-petroleum based products daily from containers and dhows manually so they are exposed to several risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. The main aim of this study was risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in charging berth workers using Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) method.
In this cross-sectional study, 248 workers were selected by simple random sampling from two of the largest charging berths in Bandar-Abbas and they were assessed in three types of operations: individual lifting and carrying and team handling. In each operation, numerical and color band scores were determined for risk factors related to working environment, lifting of load and body posture. Then, the risk level (minimum 1, maximum 4) of each operation was determined based on the total scores and priority of controlling measures were identified.
High level of risk in all of three operations was identified so that the risk levels of 3 and 4 were determined 51.21% and 33.06% in individual lifting operation, 58.47% and 39.11% in team handling operation and 77.02% and 13.31% in carrying operation, respectively.
According to the risk levels determined in charging berthes, for most risk factors related to the working environment, load lifting,and body posture, prompt action is needed and the most priorities must be given to the environmental factors.