Risk Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevalence in Female Hairdressers using RULA and NERPA Techniques

An Objective measure of ergonomic risk factors in the workplace performs a significant role in preventing the prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). Hairdressers are exposed to various safety and health risk factors due to the nature of their job. This study aimed to assess the risk of prevalence of WMSDs in female hairdressers.

In this study, the physical postures of 70 female hairdressers were assessed using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Novel Ergonomic Postural Assessment (NERPA) and then the Nordic Questionnaire (NQ) was used to assess the prevalence of WMSDs.

RULA and NERPA final score in the worst and longest postures for hairdressers was 7. The highest prevalence of WMSDs was reported in the shoulder, knee and, neck area of the body. There was a significant relationship between hairdresser’s age and the prevalence of WMSDs in the shoulders, back, waist, knees and, ankles areas. The prevalence of WMSDs was found to have a significant relationship with standing-sitting activities.

The findings of this research revealed that the study population had a high prevalence of WMSDs, especially in the shoulder, knee and, neck areas. This study suggested that the conditions of the workplace should be improved. Therefore, in addition to improving working conditions, it is recommended that hairdressers be trained in identifying workplace hazards and so using proper ergonomic standards while working.