Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Office Workers in a Consulting Firm in Kerala

Abstract

Office workers often develop work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in lower back, neck, upper and lower extremities. The study methodology includes systematic procedure to assess risk of MSD, analysis of office layout for environmental stress factors, digital human modeling for workstation design. The study identifies the prevalence of MSD and ergonomic risks among employees of a reputed environmental consultancy firm in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India. The study sample comprises of all office workers in the firm. Preliminary data on MSDs was obtained through a questionnaire survey (n = 26). All the participants had MSD symptoms with back and lower body parts, and neck and upper limbs problems. 70% have experienced MSD symptoms in the last six months. Ergonomic assessment protocol includes video recording of tasks and workstations, comfort measurement through questionnaire, workstation assessment by ROSA tool and measurement of environmental conditions such as temperature, sound, light and ventilation. ROSA assessment indicated the need for workstation redesign. Assessment of environmental conditions indicated the need to improve lighting, temperature and ventilation condition. RULA analysis of existing workstation using digital human modeling indicated various workstation issues. Further work includes ergonomic redesign of workstation and workplace for the consulting firm.