Evaluation and redesign of manual material handling in a vaccine production centre’s warehouse

Abstract

This study was conducted in a warehouse at a vaccine production centre where improvement to existing storage and working conditions were sought through the construction of a new refrigerated store section (2-8C°). Warehousing tasks were videotaped and ergonomics analysis tools were used to assess the risk of developing MSDs. Specifically, these tools were the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and the NIOSH equation. The current plant layout was sketched and analyzed to find possible targets for improvement trough the application of general work space design and ergonomics principles. Seven of the eight postures evaluated with REBA had a total score between 8 and 10, meaning a high risk, and only one was at a medium risk level. Nine of the eleven manual material handling tasks analyzed with the NIOSH equation had a Lifting Index between 1.14 and 1.80 and two had a recommended weight limit of 0kg, indicating a need for job redesign. Solutions included the redesign of shelves, the design of a two-step stair and a trolley with adjustable height; also, changes in work methods were proposed by introducing a two-workers lifting strategy and job rotation, and, finally, a restructuring of plant layout was completed.

Study of low back pain intensity and disability index among manual material handling workers of a tile and ceramic industrial unit, Iran (2016)

“…NIOSH equation has been used in many studies to evaluate manual handling of loads; their results were consistent with our study, and the values obtained were higher than the recommended limit (29,30). These studies used their results for redesigning workstations for manual handling of loads (31,32). In this study, the prevalence of LBP among workers was reported equal to 100%, and LBP intensity evaluated by VAS was equal to 68.8 ± 17.8 (disabling pain).…”

Evaluation of the Impact of the Revised National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Lifting Equation

“…Two studies were surveys of risk assessment tools used by field professionals (Arezes et al, 2011; Dempsey et al, 2005). Four studies were evaluations of risk reductions after implementation of interventions (Bernardes, Wanderck, & Moro, 2012; Dormohammadi, Amjad Sardrudi, Motamedzade, Dormohammadi, & Musavi, 2012; Pires, 2012; Torres & Vina, 2012). Exposures to MSD risks using the RNLE in different working populations were investigated in 10 studies, including grocery stockers (Davis & Orta Anés, 2014), firefighters (Gentzler & Stader, 2010), preschool teachers (Grant, Habes, & Tepper, 1995), neighborhood pub workers (Jones, Strickfaden, & Kumar, 2005), fishermen (Kucera et al, 2008; Kuruganti & Albert, 2013), fish processing workers, cooks (Xu & Cheng, 2014), workers in a fire brick manufacturing plant (Chung & Kee, 2000), and workers in many manufacturing and distribution sectors (Ciriello & Snook, 1999; Dempsey, 2003).…”

The Discipline of Ergonomics in Cuba within the Occupational Health Framework: Background and Trends

“…Ergonomic interventions were carried out recently to reduce MSD risk factors in such major economic sectors as manufacturing, the tobacco industry, tourism, the pharmaceutical industry, and the biotechnological industry [26][27][28][29][30][31]. These investigations have used film analysis techniques, process simulation, software to In addition, anthropometric data on the Cuban population have been used in the studies to determine optimal workplace dimensions [32].…”

“…Low-level symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders were detected in 73 percent of the workers surveyed; the symptoms were located in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. The percentage of positive critical behaviors by the workers increased to 65 percent from a reference level of 52 percent.Torres et al, 2010[27] Rodríguez and Pérez, 2011[31] Torres and Viña, 2012[28] The study was done in a pharmaceutical production facility. Three work stations were selected from a packing line, to evaluate extreme working postures and movements.…”