Ergonomic assessment of Sina car montage industry employees \'working positions by REBA (Rapid entire body assessment)

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are most important work-related injuries and debilities in developed and developing industrial countries. In the recent years, the rate of injuries and MSDs in car montage industries compared with other industries was so more. Therefore, the purpose of present study was focused on ergonomic assessment of sina car montage industry employees’ working positions in Hamedan.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2013. 120 workers with 60 occupational duties from different sections were selected as samples and REBA Technique (high consistency and allow ability) was carried out to assess musculoskeletal loads on workers due to their postures, repetition, and force. Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was also used to obtain prevalence of entire body disorders. Finally, data was analyzed by use of statistical tests.

During last year, most suffering from MSDs in studied persons was related to waistline region (34.4%) that was followed by neck and wrist (each of them 31.2%). No tasks were placed in action level of 0 and few cases were in action level of one. Thereby, further actions, ergonomic designing solutions, and multiple preventions are necessary. Other findings are indicated that A limbs compared with B limbs are in higher risk levels, ergonomically and thus incidence of sufferings is greater in these limbs.

The result of present study will point out a need to develop and apply a program by using of ergonomic concepts in order to prevent from MSDs in different car montage industries in the country. Also, it induces the need for improvement procelures for omission of improper postures in studied industry.