Evaluation and redesign of manual material handling activities in storage workplace at one vaccine production centre

摘要

The study was carried out in the area of packing and storage in one vaccine production centre in which risk factors of MSD are presented. The main objective of this study is to decrease the risks level of MSD throughout ergonomics evaluation and ergonomics redesign of workplace. The research shows the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the workers, main affected body regions were: shoulders (88%), neck (88%) and low back (77%); all of workers have presented muscle pains during last year. Main causes of such problems were identified as: unsuitable design of work elements, extreme postures as a result of inappropriate measurements in shelves, poor grip design and over-exertion imposed as a result of heavy loads manipulated during the shift. Using for ergonomics assessing the software “Ergointelligence: Manual Material Handling Assessment Tools 1.3.1” shows that seven of eight postures evaluated with REBA had a total score between 8 and 10 meaning a high risk level; only one was in medium risk level. From the five manual material handling activities assessed with NIOSH equation, two of them were at Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) of 0Kg, meaning high risk, the others three obtained a Lifting Index between 1.4 and 2.14 classified as moderate risk. After redesign, during a new evaluation, all postures decrease de risk level regarding REBA to a score between 1 and 5 except one (keeping the same score of 9). All of the five manual material handling activities decreased LI values between 0.48 and 0.78 representing a decrease MSD risk.