Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common disorders in any work sector and industry. Ergonomic risk assessment can reduce the risk of WMSDs. Motion capture that can provide accurate and real-time quantitative data has been widely used as a tool for ergonomic risk assessment. However, most ergonomic risk assessments that use motion capture still depend on the traditional ergonomic risk assessment method, focusing on qualitative data. Therefore, this article aims to provide a view on the ergonomic risk assessment and apply current motion capture technology to understand classical mechanics of physics that include velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum in ergonomic risk assessment. This review suggests that using motion capture technologies with kinetic and kinematic variables, such as velocity, acceleration, and force, can help avoid inconsistency and develop more reliable results in ergonomic risk assessment. Most studies related to the physical measurement conducted with motion capture prefer to use non-optical motion capture because it is a low-cost system and simple experimental setup. However, the present review reveals that optical motion capture can provide more accurate data.

Back injury is a common musculoskeletal injury reported among firefighters (FFs) due to their nature of work and personal protective equipment (PPE). The nature of the work associated with heavy lifting tasks increases FFs’ risk of back injury. This study aimed to assess the biomechanics movement of FFs on personal protective equipment during a lifting task. A set of questionnaires was used to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain experienced by FFs. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion capture was used in this study to record the body angle deviation and angular acceleration of FFs’ thorax extension. The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the FFs’ age and body mass index with the FFs’ thorax movement during the lifting task with PPE and without PPE. Sixty-three percent of FFs reported lower back pain during work, based on the musculoskeletal pain questionnaire. The biomechanics analysis of thorax angle deviation and angular acceleration has shown that using FFs PPE significantly causes restricted movement and limited mobility for the FFs. As regards human factors, the FFs’ age influences the angle deviation while wearing PPE and FFs’ BMI influences the angular acceleration without wearing PPE during the lifting activity.

Indoor gas emission has been a matter of public concern. People mostly spend their time in the indoor environment, especially children, therefore more exposed to indoor air pollution. The primary objective of this study is to determine the exposure level of the pollutant and evaluate the potential adverse effects on students at schools in indoor settings. Three schools were randomly selected in Kangar and Arau areas. The methods applied in the study involved the measurement of pollutants, questionnaire and health risk assessment. The monitoring was conducted in each school’s classroom, library, and science lab. Concentrations of the indoor and outdoor air pollutants (e.g. CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, and VOCs) were collected. From the sampling results, the average indoor pollutant concentrations in all selected schools were 0.39, 484, 0.002, 0.046 and 0.04 ppm, respectively. The average CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs concentrations in the outdoor environment are 1.11, 442, 0.03, 0.019 and 0.03 ppm. All of the pollutant concentrations do not exceed the standard limit and guidelines. From health risk assessment, it can be concluded that potential health risk for human exposure to CO was low birth weight, auditory system, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma symptom, and respiratory responses.