REDUCING MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS (MSDs) BY

MITIGATING ERGONOMICS RISK FACTORS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE

ZURAINI BINTI SWARNO

A project report submitted in partial fulfilment of the

requirements for the award of degree of

Master of Science (Construction Management)

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

AUGUST 2014

iii

DEDICATION

Mom and Sisters,

Your Endless Love and Pray Was Endless

Dad,

You’re Dua’ Shine to Me from Heaven

Hafizul,

You’ll Always being my backbone

Friends,

Thank you for being my four leaf clovers that hard to find

and I’m lucky to have all of you

My Supervisor,

You Have Driven Me to the Truth That You Could

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, I want to thank Allah s.w.t for giving me enough knowledge and

precious opportunity to complete this research, I would like to take this opportunity

to express and record my gratitude towards my supervisor AP Aziruddin Ressang

for all the time he allocated and all him guidance, encouragement, critics , and

generosity to provide his experience and knowledge. Without his guidance in

preparation, this thesis would not have seen the light.

Besides that, I would like to express my appreciation to fellow course mate:

Hazwani and Syahina for stimulating discussions, for the sleepless nights we were

working together before deadline. And I would like to thank for Hadi, Anas and

Wani to all the fun that we had in the last two years. And also I would like to thank

for my friends form UUM for helping me for this project.

Furthermore, I would like to take the occasion here to my family for their

encouragement and their supportive insolences. Hence, I send here my sincere

appreciation to all my friends and colleagues for their continuous support and

encouragement in completion of this research successfully.

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ABSTRACT

Injuries have been recognized as serious issues on construction site. The aim of

this research is to reduce Ergonomics Risk Factors (ERF) on construction site by

mitigating ERFs on construction site. Literature review was carried out and

questionnaire formulated and distributed on construction site around Johor Bahru.

The data collected was analyzed by using HIRARCH. The result showed that

performing motions constantly without short pause or break in between task, tools

weight is too heavy and working by doing the same motion over and over again was

being the high risk on construction site. Therefore, to reduce Musculoskeletal

Disorders by having necessities of communication network at site, top management

controls, preparing some training and education program, and also wearing the

proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on construction site.

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ABSTRAK

Kecederaan telah dikenalpasti sebagai isu yang serius di tapak bina. Tujuan

kajian ini adalah untuk mengurangkan Faktor Risiko Ergonomik (ERF) di tapak bina

dengan mengatasi ERF di tapak bina. Kajian literatur telah dijalankan dan soal

selidik telah diformulasikan dan telah diedarkan di tapak pembinaan di sekitar Johor

Bahru. Data yang diperolehi telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan HIRARCH. Hasil

soal selidik menunjukkan bahawa dengan melakukan gerakan yang kerap tanpa

mempunyai masa rehat mahupun berhenti seketika ketika melakukan sesuatu tugas,

alatan kerja yang mempunyai berat yang berlebihan, dan bekerja dengan melakukan

pergerakan yang sama berulang-ulang kali telah menjadi antara risiko yang tertinggi

di tapak bina. Oleh yang demikian, untuk mengurangkan gangguan kesakitan yang

berpanjangan adalah dengan mempunyai keperluan rangkaian komunikasi yang

teratur di tapak bina, kawalan dari pihak pengurusan, penyediaan beberapa program

dan latihan, dan juga akan pemakaian Peralatan Perlindungan Peribadi (PPE) dan

seterusnya akan dapat mengurangkan gangguan muskuluskeletal (MSDs).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

TABLE OF CONTENT

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF ABBREVIATION

LIST OF APPENDICES

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iii

iv

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xiv

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction And Background

1.1 Problem Statement

1.2 Aim Of Study

1.3 Objectives Of Study

1.4 Scope Of Research

1.5 Significant Of Study

1.6 Methodology

1.7 Research Methodology

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2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Definition Of Ergonomics

2.2 Ergonomic Risk Factors

2.2.1 Awkward Posture

2.2.2 Force

2.2.3 Repitition

2.2.4 Vibration

2.2.5 Static Loading

2.2.6 Contact Stress

2.2.7 Extreme Temperature

2.3 Risk Management

2.4 Ergonomic Injuries

2.4.1 Strain And Spain

2.4.1.1 Low Back Pain

2.4.2 Cumulative Trauma Disorder

2.4.3 Summary Of Cumulative Tunnel

Disorder Injuries

2.5 Accident Avoidance Method

2.6.1 Job Safety Analysis

2.6 Conclusion

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3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Literature Review

3.2 Develop Questionnaire

3.2.1 Design Of Questionnaire

3.3 Data Collection

3.3.1 Quantitative Data

3.4 Data Analysis

3.4.1 Cronbach’s Alpha

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48

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50

52

52

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3.4.2 Hazard Identification, Risk

Assessment And Risk Control

3.5 Chapter Summary

55

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4 DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.0 Introduction

4.1 Reliability Analysis

4.2 Findings

4.3 Respondents’ Background

4.3.1 Organisation Type

4.3.2 Age Distribution

4.3.3 Position Distribution

4.3.4 Working Experience

4.3.5 Working Hours Distribution

4.3.6 Most Familiar Project Type

4.3.7 Overall Percentage Of Works

Involving Ergonomics Risk Factors

4.4 Result Objective 1

4.5 Result Objective 2

4.6 Result Objective 3

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5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0 Introduction

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Recommendation For Further Study

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90

REFERENCES

91

APPENDIX A 94-102

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

1.1 Number Of Occupational Accidents Statistics By Sector,

2013

4

2.1 Definitions Of Ergonomics 13

2.2 Various Activity That Can Result Awkward Posture 19

2.3 Types Activity That Require Force 21

2.4 Key Project Objectives To Achieve By The Risk In The

Construction Project Development

30

2.5 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 38

2.6 De Quervain’s Syndrome 39

2.7 Epicondylitis 40

2.8 Raynaud’s Syndrome 41

2.9 Trigger Fingers 42

2.10 Tendonitis 43

2.11 Process Of Job Safety Analysis 44

3.1 Example Of Matrix Checklist 51

3.2 Ranking Criteria (Likert-Type Method) 51

3.3 Reliability Scale for Cronbach’s Alpha 52

3.4 Classification Of Frequency Rating Scale 54

4.1 Tabulation Of Respondent’s Response 58

4.2 Result Reliability Test Of Section From Questionnaire 59

4.3 Tabulation of Organization Type 61

4.4 Tabulation Of Age Distribution 62

4.5 Respondent’s Position Tabulation 64

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4.6 Tabulation Of Respondent’s Working Experience

Distribution

65

4.7 Tabulation Of Construction Site Workers Working

Hours/Day

67

4.8 Tabulation Of Most Familiar Project Type 68

4.9 Tabulation Of Overall Percentage Of Works Involving

Ergonomics Risk Factors

70

4.10 Ergonomics Risk Factors (ERF) 72

4.11 Frequency/Likelihood Rank Of Identifying ERF On

Construction Site

73

4.12 Severity Rank Of Identifying ERF On Construction Site 76

4.13 Level Priority Of Risk 80

4.14 Summary Of Mean Index The ERF On Construction Site 81

4.15 The Factor Affecting Ergonomics Risk Factors 83

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE

1.1 Occupational Accidents by Sector until December 2013 2

1.2 Occupational Accident by State until December 2013 3

1.3 Research framework flow chart 10

2.1 ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS 18

2.2 The Ergonomic Risk Factor Matrix 28

2.3 Low Back Pain 34

2.4 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 38

2.5 De Quervain’s syndrome 39

2.6 Epicondylitis 40

2.7 Raynaud’s syndrome 41

2.8 Trigger fingers 42

2.9 Tendonitis 43

3.1 Research framework flow chart 47

3.2 Risk Matrix Table 56

4.1 The Percentage of Organization Type 61

4.2 The Percentage of Age Distribution 63

4.3 The Percentage of Respondent’s Position 64

4.4 The Percentage of Respondent’s Working Experience 66

4.5 Percentage of Respondent’s Working Hours/Day 67

4.6 Percentage of Familiar Project Type 69

4.7 Percentage of Respondent’s Works Involving Ergonomics

Risk Factors

70

4.8 Recommendations to Minimize Injury 85

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CTD

ERF

DOSH

HAV

HIRARC

LBP

MSD

OSHA

PERKESO

PPE

SOCSO

SPSS

WBV

Cumulative Trauma Disorder

Ergonomic Risk Factors

Department of Safety and Health

Hand-am Vibration

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control

Low Back Pain

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Occupational of Safety and Health

Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial

Personal Protective Equipment

Social Security Organisation

Statistical Package for the Social Science

Whole-body vibration

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LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE

A Questionnaire cover letter 95

B Questionnaire Survey 96

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Risk factors can define as an actions as well as conditions that some condition

will upturn the chances of harm in the direction of the musculoskeletal system. Applied

ergonomics literature recognizes a small set of common physical risk factors across

many occupations and work setting (Cohen A.C et al. 1997). Ergonomic risk factors are

not only affecting the people immediately but also they take time to commence the

affection on the person’s health. A musculoskeletal disorder is one of ergonomic

injuries which it was the most common problem in the construction site. This type of

injuries can really affect the health of workers that are exposed to the hazards for a long

period of time.

Work place has been considered occasionally to interchange products otherwise

being sustenance instrument competently. Since their workers looks like always seem so

adaptable, this spectacle that they must fit without a glitch to be given a smaller amount

of an attention. According to OSHA, 1994, ergonomic is a science of designing the job

2

to fit the workers, rather than forcing the worker to fit the job. Construction industry was

one of risky activity and it was recorded as one of the most activity for occupational

accidents statistic by sector.

Apart from manufacturing, mining and quarrying, construction activity were in

the dangerous industries with high level of injuries as shown as Figure 1.1 and Figure

1.2.

Figure 1.1: Occupational Accidents by Sector until December 2013 (Investigated)

(DOSH, 2014)

Figure 1.1 shows that construction industry at the top three of the occupational

accident by sector until December 2013 (investigated). Number of victims for

construction industry recorded those 69 victims for Death (D), 83 victims for Non-

Permanent Disability (NPD) and 12 victims for Permanent Disability (PD).

3

Compare with the top occupational accidents which is manufacturing was

recorded as the highest cases which are recorded as 58 victims for Death (D) cases,

1,469 victims for Non-Permanent Disability (NPD) and 128 victims for Permanent

Disability (PD).

Figure 1.2: Occupational Accident by State until December 2013 (Investigated)

(DOSH, 2014)

Figure 1.2 shows that Johor at the top five of the occupational accident by state

until December 2013 (investigated). Number of victims for construction industry

recorded those 16 victims for Death (D), 135 victims for Non-Permanent Disability

(NPD) and 30 victims for Permanent Disability (PD).

4

Compare with the top occupational accidents which is Perak was recorded as the

highest cases which are recorded as 29 victims for Death (D) cases, 640 victims for Non-

Permanent Disability (NPD) and 18 victims for Permanent Disability (PD).

Table 1.1: Number of Occupational Accidents Statistics by Sector, 2013 (DOSH, 2014)

Malaysian economy has been expanded at a faster pace of 2.1 percent over the

previous quarter, up from 1.7 percent in the previous three-month period. The growth

rate for full 2013 also decelerated to 4.7 percent, from 5.6 percent in 2012 (Department

of Statistics Malaysia, 2014). The significant role has been improved from the

construction industry to make the country’s economic growth. Despite on the massive

RANK-

ING

INDUSTRY

ACCIDENT REPORTED

DEATH

(D)

NON PERMENANT DISABILITY

(NPD)

PERMENANT DISABILITY

(PD)

TOTAL

1. Manufacturing 58 1,469 128 17,106

2. Agriculture, Forestry, Logging and Fishing 33 448 14 10,168

3. Construction Industry 69 83 12 4,937 4. Utility 7 100 1 4,361

5. Transportation and Storage 8 84 0 3,851

6. Wholesale and Retail Trade 5 66 7 2,410

7. Financial, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services

0 70 0 987

8. Public Services and Statutory Bodies 0 72 0 773

9. Mining and Quarrying 5 30 0 421

10. Hotel & Restaurant 0 19 0 347

GRAND TOTAL 49,059 10,838 59,897

5

contributions to economic growth, construction industry has been blamed for the high

rate of accidents and fatalities.

The latest annual report updated by the Social Security Organization (SOCSO),

and it also known as Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO, 2012), recorded that

the construction accident has been reach for 5,117 accident reported it contain that a

higher number 4,536 of male workers were involved with accidents compared to 641

female workers who are involved in accidents. These total of number to compare to year

2011 which is have comparison among the total of number accident reported 4,937

people who are involved in accident in the construction industry. It involved 4.330 of

male workers were involved with accidents compared 607 female workers who are

involved in accidents. Both report shows that even the major and high-growth

construction industry faces a high risk of accident occurrence.

The elementary proposition of ergonomics in the job demands should not go

beyond workers’ abilities and inadequacy make certain that they would not be wide-

open to work stress that unsympathetically have emotional impact their well-being and

healthiness as well as the establishment’s efficiency. For that reason, the impartial of an

ergonomics platform is to be responsible for a safe and industrious shop floor to the

worker’s coziness to bring about the goals and points of the organization.

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1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The workplace and construction productiveness is a vibrant and precarious

industry, creating it in cooperation irreplaceable and thought-provoking intended for

ergonomic sides to be carry out on site. And so, there are lots of guiding influences that

can be taken into consideration in executing ergonomics and supervisory ergonomics to

jeopardy the issues in the construction place. Ergonomic controls are used to help

appropriate the workstation to the wage earner. They strive for to place the body in a

nonaligned position and reduce the other ergonomic risk factors. These controls must

provide somewhere to stay the widest range of personnel. There are a few line of attacks

and steps can be taken to expand ergonomics putting into practice in the workplace and

to shrink the risk factors that be able to be done over and done with a little control

networks.

1.2 AIM OF STUDY

The aim of this research is to reduce ergonomics injuries by mitigating ERFs on

construction site. To achieve the aim the followings objectives have been identified.

7

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The objectives of this research are:

1) To study the ergonomic risk factors on construction sites.

2) To investigate the factor affecting ergonomics risk factors.

3) To recommend methods to mitigate ergonomics risk factors on

construction site.

1.4 SCOPE OF RESEARCH

Throughout the entire process of the research, it will center on the construction

site in the states of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The target respondents include all

participants involved in the construction projects such as general workers, contractors,

consultants, safety officers, site supervisors, project managers and others. Mainly those

respondents are general workers, contractors and project managers.

The respondents will be randomly chosen to respond to the interviews and

questioners.

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1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF STUDY

The idea for doing this study is want to identify and distinguish the project

features that are causing construction hazards. Wider perspective from the construction

site will be view it in and the investigation to identify the causes or factors that are

affecting the project in future.

Identifying the hazards form the project features on the construction sites will assist

the research in tracking down the relentlessness of each project feature in bring about the

hazards. For each project, the level of severities in influencing hazards and the causes

affecting the project features will be identified and labeled it from the lowest it highest

influence of hazards.

The results from the analysis will enable recommendations on ways to reduce

hazards on construction site. The result of the study is expected to provide information to

avoid or reduce hazards on construction sites, thus improving the working conditions in

the construction industry to a status of a safe industry.

1.6 METHODOLOGY

1) Literature review:

a. Previous thesis

b. Articles and magazines

9

c. Books and journal

2) Empirical study will involve the collection of data and information through

interviews and surveys (e.g.: workplace observation, questionnaires, etc.)

3) Analysis of data was conducted using appropriate methods (SPSS and etc.)

1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

In order to complete the research methodology of this study, there are certain

processes that need to be identified and implemented. The methodology of this research

is carried out in order to determine the essential steps that will be performed to meet the

objectives of this research. The steps of the process involved for the completion of this

research:

10

Figure 1.3: Research framework flow chart

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