An Ergonomic Analysis of Company XYZ’s Maintenance Personnel Activities

Abstract

Peer-reviewed literature indicates that musculoskeletal disorders are inherent in employees who are defined as manual laborers. The researcher, having a history of maintenance activities, hypothesized the maintenance activities at company XYZ may possess the potential to subject employees to stressors which may develop into musculoskeletal disorders. To determine if the fore-mentioned stressors negatively impact company XYZ’s maintenance employees, assessment tools and techniques such as on-site work activity observations, coupled with force as well as well as goniometer-based measurements were employed to verify or dismiss the hypothesis ofthe researcher. The data collected was inputted into the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation and the results served as a basis for suggested controls to mitigate cumulative stressors which may lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. The results of the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation showed only minor work practice deficiencies in the task observed. Maintenance employees, at company XYZ, reported minimal musculoskeletal discomfort on the participant’s questionnaires. The results of the analysis were deemed inconclusive however, the literature review indicated musculoskeletal disorders are chronic and cumulative in nature, as such several recommendations are proposed to mitigate the potential of company XYZ’s maintenance personnel developing musculoskeletal disorders as they mature in their chosen career.