ERGONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG THAI MINIBUS DRIVERS IN MUANG DISTRICT, PHITSANULOK PROVINCE

Abstract

         The objectives of this study were to assess the ergonomic risk and to determine factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Thai minibus drivers.Data were collected from 21 drivers in Muang district, Phitsanulok province. Collected data were divided into 2 parts: 1) personal characteristics, working characteristics, and evidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders were collected by interview form; 2) the ergonomic risk was assessed by using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA).The results showed that all Thai minibus drivers were male. Their average age and working experience were 53.10 ± 10.50 and 2.62 ± 0.67 years, respectively. Furthermore, their average working time was 10.76 ± 1.76 hours per day. There were 57.1% of drivers that were exposed to two level of ergonomic risk. Additionally, the top three weighted scores of musculoskeletal disorders were lower back (2.74 ± 8.81), left lower leg (1.93 ± 4.70), and right lower leg (0.76 ± 2.25), respectively. While working experience was significantly associated with the average frequency and weighted scores of left
lower leg discomfort (p-value = 0.030 and 0.031, respectively).The that ergonometric result showed intervention strategies should be provided to raise awareness regarding work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially in high working experience group and to ensure that they remain safe and healthy as much as possible throughout their working life time.