Investigation of musculoskeletal disorder risks in the meat transporting process

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) occur in workplaces because of the stress and various ergonomic risks that employees are exposed. These disorders affect especially the back waist, leg, arm, neck ankle areas of the body. For this reason, ergonomic risk assessment practices are performed to reduce the stress of employees in the working environment and to use workers' ability more effectively. In this study work related MSD were discussed, ergonomic risk assessment methods available in the literature were mentioned and work-related MSD were assessed in meat handling process of a retail establishment Using the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire employees' opinions about their work were taken and evaluated in terms of ergonomic risks. OWAS, QEC and ManTRA methods, which are whole body assessment methods, were used in the application phase. With these methods, ergonomic risk assessment was carried out in meat handling process and solution proposes for identified ergonomic risks were developed.