The Association of Manual Load Lifting Tasks with the Ergonomic Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Manual material handling is a high-risk task, which could lead to musculoskeletal injuries. The present study aimed to determine the association of manual load lifting tasks with the ergonomic risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders using the WISHA index and QEC method.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 52 employees of the metal industry, who were surveyed by the simple census method. The WISHA index was used to assess the manual load lifting, and Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. In addition, the QEC method was applied to evaluate the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21.

In total, 53.8% of the workers lifted heavier loads than the allowable weight obtained by the WISHA index. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 79.9%, and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders was 36.5% at an extremely high level and 44.2% at a high level. The WISHA index was significantly correlated with the QEC scores (P < 0.001) and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders
(P = 0.022).

According to the results, manual material handling tasks increased the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and work absenteeism. Therefore, taking corrective actions is essential in the workplace.