Ergonomic Assessment in Waste Sorting Jobs with Different Methods

Abstract

The workers’ health and safety are necessary for an active and sustainable life. That implies the creation of a safe and healthy environment throughout the active life of a workforce. The goal is to explore the contribution of several ergonomics evaluation methods applied in the fight against occupational diseases, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in urban waste sorting posts, respectively in the multi-purpose line, green line and the line of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in a waste management company. To achieve this goal, it was considered an analysis to the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), three observational methods, namely the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), the Job Strain Index (SI) and the Sonex software to the multi-purpose line and to the green line. To the WEEE line, it was considered analysis to the NMQ, two observational methods, namely the Key Indicator Method (KIM), Mital’s Guide and the Sonex software. The application of NMQ shows the multi-purpose line is the one with the highest prevalence in symptomatology. In the application of observational methods, the comparative study shows that none of the methodologies is ideal, compared to others, to evaluate waste sorting tasks associated with repetitive movements, manual handling of loads (MHL) and inadequate postures. It is also possible to realize the Sonex software, being useful for the overall evaluation of the working position and not for each task that comprehends, having as a disadvantage, the evaluation conducted after the symptoms begin to show.