Health Risk Predicted Matrix of MSDs Risk Assessment in Electronic Industrial Workers of Winding Process.

Abstract

Background: The electronics assembly industry is continuously expanding, and the toroidal winding process exacerbates musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to exposure to ergonomic risk factors.

Aim: The objectives of this study were to assess the ergonomic risk and health risks of MSDs among workers in the toroidal winding electronics assembly industry.

Materials and methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study included 46 workers in one electronics winding assembly industry in Northeast Thailand who met the inclusion criteria of having work experience of at least 6 months and working at least 8 hours a day The data were collected using a self-assessment MSDs Severity and Frequency Questionnaire (MSFQ), ergonomic risk assessment for standing posture via applied Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and for sitting posture via applied Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), as well as a health risk matrix for MSDs risk assessment.

Results: In the winding process without using the machine, workers predominantly experienced body discomfort in the shoulders and upper back, while in the winding process with the machine, this discomfort shifted to the shoulders and lower back. The ergonomic risk for the standing posture was at the highest level of risk, level 4, while the sitting posture was at level 3. The analysis of the MSDs risk matrix showed that workers winding without the machine were at a very high health risk level (65.22%), whereas workers winding with the machine were also at a very high health risk level (60.87%).

Conclusion: The health risk matrix for the prediction of MSDs is very useful in MSD surveillance programs among workers in the toroidal winding industry.