Objective To identify and assess the ergonomic risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among workers in the automotive repair industry.
Methods From January 2018 to December 2020, a cluster sampling method was used to select workers from 23 automotive repair businesses in Chongqing as research subjects. The baseline risk identification of ergonomic factors (BRIEF) in the United States and the method for the identification of musculoskeletal stress factors which may have injurious effects (PLIBEL) in Sweden were employed to identify adverse ergonomic risk factors during automotive repair operations, and the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) was utilized for posture load level assessment.
Results A total of 193 workers were evaluated ergonomically, including 86 mechanics, 60 painters, and 47 sheet metal workers. BRIEF results indicated that the neck, back, and wrists of mechanics, painters, and sheet metal workers were potential risk areas for WMSDs; PLIBEL results showed slight differences in the hazardous areas occurring in different operations, with mechanics, painters, and sheet metal workers' elbows, forearms, hands, and upper back neck and shoulders mainly involving repetitive tasks, and painters and sheet metal workers' lower backs primarily involving unsupported standing postures and severe forward bending; REBA assessment of posture load levels was mainly medium and low risk, with the proportion of mechanics, painters, and sheet metal workers at medium risk level being 61.6% (53/86), 36.7% (22/60), and 23.4% (11/17), respectively.
Conclusions Automotive repair workers should strengthen the management and control of the aforementioned ergonomic risk factors to prevent the occurrence of WMSDs.
DownLoad: