Association between Ergonomic Risk Factors and Musculoskeletal Symptom among Automobile Assembly Line Workers in Shah Alam, Selangor

cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MSD symptom and also ascertain the association between MSD symptom and its risk factors among automobile assembly line workers. A simple random sampling method was adopted and data were collected via face-to-face interview and posture assessment method based on Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method from April to August 2008. A total of 232 assembly line workers with at least one year job tenure participated in this study. The finding revealed that 78.4% of workers reported MSD symptoms while low back had the highest prevalence of MSD symptoms (50.9%). Three factors were found to be significantly associated with MSD symptom; age (χ2=5.609, p = 0.018), job tenure (χ2 = 8.260, p = 0.008) and awkward posture (χ2 = 65.372, p =0.001). Logistic regression test indicated that young workers (< 25 years old) were less likely to complain MSD symptoms (OR= 0.314, 95%CI= 0.129-0.770) compared to older workers. Moreover, workers with equal and more than 3 years job tenure were 2 times more likely to complain of MSD symptoms (OR= 2.422, 95%CI= 1.042-5.629) when compared to those with less than 3 years job tenure. In addition, workers in the very high RULA action level were 69 times (OR= 69.383, 95%CI= 14.511-331.734) and workers in the high RULA action level (OR=12.415, 95%CI= 5.210-29.458) were 12 times, more likely to complain MSD symptom as compared to those workers in the low and intermediate RULA action level. The high prevalence of MSD shows that MSD symptom is a significant problem among automobile assembly line workers. Consistent with other studies, the result of this study indicated that age, job tenure and awkward posture are the significant risk factors for MSD symptom. In particular, this study proves that the prevalence of MSD symptom increases as the RULA action level and job tenure increases. Thus, given the association between awkward posture and prevalence of MSD symptom, this problem could be reduce by decreasing RULA action level through appropriate ergonomic workstation design and ergonomic training for workers.

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