Applying the BRIEFTM Survey for ergonomic risks assessment among home workers of hand-operated rebar bender

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey research was conducted to investigate the ergonomic risks and physical fitness among home workers of hand-operated rebar bender in Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, excluding the foreign workers. A systematic random sampling was performed among 241 home workers. Data were collected by applied techniques the BRIEF^TM (Baseline Risk Identification of Ergonomic Factors) survey for the ergonomics risk assessment, environmental survey, and measurement of physical fitness. The descriptive statistics were used for data analysis and showed that the feature functions were cutting the rebar (54 workers), rebar bending pattern (241 workers) and bunching the rebar casing (170 workers). There were the steel dust nuisance for 86.5 % and using personal protective equipment (PPE) for 86.3 %, but PPE were inappropriate to hazards. The physical fitness test identified that back strength and legs strength were mostly at fair level (52.7 %) and low to very low levels (51.5%), respectively. The grip strength was slightly predominant at fair to good level (33.6-43.6 %). The results of evaluation find the muscle strength of back and legs muscle was low to very low levels, to some level. The hand grips were proportional to a similar, but slightly to the good to excellent (43.6 %). The ergonomic risks assessment indicated that most workers had ergonomic risk at level 2 (unacceptable risk level) in process of cutting the rebar (81.5 %), bending the rebar (86.3 %) and bunching the rebar casing (75.9 %). The high risk posture of hand-operated rebar bender was identified at position of lower back (88.8 %), right elbow (86.7%) and shoulder (76.4%). In conclusions, the assessment of ergonomics risk and physical fitness indicated the risks from working postures and health conditions of rebar benders, might played an important role on back pain and upper limbs disorders in the long-term. The suggestion is there should be the suitable labour-saving machine/equipments and PPE providing to the home workers. The surveillance program by health risk assessment and occupational health services should be provided. The local administrative organizations of each area should control and educate informal workers to work safety under the Labour Protection Act of home workers protection.

Keywords:  Ergonomics, Hand-Operated Rebar Bender, BRIEF^TM Survey, Informal workers, Physical fitness