Abstract
Risk factors related to work activity and ergonomics can enhance the probability that some persons may develop a MSD (musculoskeletal disorder). Usually the MSD develops due to high task repetition, forceful exertion, and repetitive/sustained awkward postures. MSD is also found in some cases where workers are engaged with working in awkward postures, cold temperatures, contact stress, heavy load, static postures, and vibration, etc. Many studies explain the problems for MSD, but in this chapter an effort is taken to rank the maximum body movement and body parts as per the different types of work flow system such that ergonomics design can be planned. Physical disorders can be avoided by finding and ranking the difficult task and the affected body part due to that kind of work. The prioritization of task will help the organization to think of sustainable designs of working procedure or instruments or machines to provide maximum comfort to humankind. It may also help to frame policies for occupational safety and hazards in workplace.
TopLiterature Review
Ergonomic design can be achieved but its evaluation can be varied. This varied needs and results can be further experimented and scrutinized in a very controlled environment. But the very big problem is also the relationship between eco-friendly effectiveness and restriction of autonomous values. To carry out a lot of experiments is also difficult. But with the use of new supercomputers and by running direct diagnosis one can find results by running computational experiments with a virtual set up. The basic objective of ergonomics is to fit man and machine together to improve the worker's performance, reduce stresses and fatigue at work. Application of ergonomics is very significant in an area where manual activities directly affect the physical and mental health of the employee (Parkes et al., 2005). Kushwaha and Kane (2016) have discussed that intervention of ergonomics in the workplace reduces the mismatch between man and machine and makes workplace comfortable for work. Ramos et.al.(2016) have developed a model to perform a financial and economic cost-benefit analysis related to OSH projects was developed and it was applied in the case of the prevention of WMSDs in a Portuguese hospital. An analysis of the accidents and corresponding costs has been made in six of the services of the hospital. Financial and an economic cost-benefit analysis have been made and the benefit-cost ratio (B/C) has been calculated. Charles et.al. (2012) have suggested that a brief hazard perception test could potentially be used in the assessment of drivers across the adult lifespan. Ergonomics is not only analyzed for construction, industries but also it is useful for all types of sectors.(i.e.education,health sector etc).Many modifications are also done in the workplace, work technique/procedures, equipment for giving the maximum comfort of humankind. Assunção et.al. (2013) have examined the effect on the prevalence of back pain of the mismatch between school furniture dimensions, backpack weight and the anthropometric characteristics of 138 adolescents (1215 years old) with differing maturity levels. These results highlight the importance to study the school environment to establish preventive programmes for back pain in youths.
Key Terms in this Chapter
HOQ: House of quality is a voice of customer analysis tool and a key component of the quality functional deployment technique.
AHP: Analytical hierarchy process is a structured technique for organizing and analyzing complex decisions, based on mathematics and psychology.
ISM: Interpretive structural equation modeling is a well-established methodology for identifying relationships among specific items, which define a problem or an issue. This approach has been increasingly used by various researchers to represent the interrelationships among various elements related to the issue.