Students’ Musculoskeletal Disorders Assessment Using RULA

Abstract

Classroom and laboratory infrastructure, food quality, and the environment cause many health issues to the students at colleges and universities, like back pain, eye issues, shoulder pain, and pain in the spinal cord. These problems affect many students' physical and psychological capacity, and students lose enthusiasm and intelligence. This study was conducted at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) to identify the ergonomic problems of students from attending lectures in class, performing different experiments in laboratories and workshops, and food quality at the canteens. This study focuses on ergonomic awareness and following rules and regulations for students and university administration. This research is conducted based on different questionnaires and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. Through questionnaires, we analyzed students’ physical and mental problems. The survey was conducted at the before mentioned university from a total of 104 random students. Using the RULA method, we take data from different postures of students while performing practical work in computer laboratories, mechanical workshops, and other laboratories. After analysis, it is found that the RULA score is almost 7, which is dangerous for health and further survey shows many health problems through questionnaires. It is suggested that universities should follow the ergonomics rules, make a good environment for classes, laboratories, and workshops also improve the food quality at the canteen to mitigate the health problems in students.