Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

This study intend to determine the effectiveness of an integrated ergonomics interventions approach, highly promoted by International Labour Organization to resolve ergonomics issues specifically among oil palm harvesters and to improve Occupational Safety and Health aspects of the workplace during...

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Main Author:	Ng, Yee Guan
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2014
Subjects:	Occupational Health - Manpower - Malaysia Occupational Health - Education - Malaysia Occupational Health - Ethics
Online Access:	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51131/1/FPSK%28p%29%202015%201RR.pdf
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id	my-upm-ir.51131
record_format	uketd_dc
institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection	PSAS Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	Occupational Health - Manpower - Malaysia Occupational Health - Education - Malaysia Occupational Health - Ethics
spellingShingle	Occupational Health - Manpower - Malaysia Occupational Health - Education - Malaysia Occupational Health - Ethics Ng, Yee Guan Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
description	This study intend to determine the effectiveness of an integrated ergonomics interventions approach, highly promoted by International Labour Organization to resolve ergonomics issues specifically among oil palm harvesters and to improve Occupational Safety and Health aspects of the workplace during early harvesting stage in oil palm plantation. Methodology: Divided into two phases, the first phase of the cross-sectional design involved 446 male respondents working as harvesters (263 fresh fruit bunch (FFB) cutters; 183 FFB collectors). Questionnaires were used to collect information on sociodemographic data, occupational history, social lifestyle, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and productivities data. Video recording was used to assist postural assessment of harvesters using Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). An intervention package based on Participatory Action Oriented Training (PAOT) approach were subsequently designed and implemented in the second phase of the study. The intervention program features video, interactive lectures, games and action checklist. Two instruments were used to assess the effectiveness; knowledge, attitude and practice as well as body symptom questionnaire. Besides that, qualitative observation were also used to determine physical improvement or change from the intervention program. Results: Ergonomics risk factors particularly awkward postures, repetitive motion and forceful exertion were predominant among harvesters (both FFB cutters and FFB collectors) in oil palm plantation. Evidently, the 12 months and 7 days prevalence of MSDs at any body parts were 86% and 45% for respective duration. Lower back pain was the most commonly self-reported symptoms followed by knee neck and shoulder for both FFB cutters and FFB collectors. Significant risk factors of MSDs among the harvesters such as education level, body mass index, awkward postures, daily working and resting hours, working overtime and hobby (fishing) explain some but not all of the risk factors. Significant productivity loss were also observed among harvesters with acute MSDs where they were almost 3 times likely to be still working (presenteeism, OR=2.87; CI=1.34, 6.14) but produce only half as much as their healthy (without MSDs) colleagues (daily productivity, OR=2.09, CI=1.02, 4.29). The ergonomics intervention, PAOT approach were successfully implemented despite severely unanticipated and unavoidable limitations. The post-intervention assessment indicates that although the total knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) score increased within IG (Friedman test, χ2=16.831, p<0.01), there were however no significant difference as compared to CG. In terms of MSDs, the post-intervention assessment were not effective to reduce the prevalence of MSDs within the intervention group (IG) as well as between control group (CG). Conclusion: Findings in this study indicates that effective intervention strategy among oil palm harvesters during early harvesting stage is crucially required considering the health effect in terms of MSDs and the productivity loss. Despite being reported effective in various other agricultural application, the application of PAOT approach did not indicate effectiveness on multinational corporate oil palm plantation potentially attributable to the severe limitation of this study. Thus, it is recommended that future research work consider the limitations as reported in this study besides further exploration of other ergonomics risk factors and biomechanics of harvesting tasks using prospective research design.
format	Thesis
qualification_name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Ng, Yee Guan
author_facet	Ng, Yee Guan
author_sort	Ng, Yee Guan
title	Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
title_short	Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
title_full	Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
title_fullStr	Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
title_sort	effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in johor bahru, malaysia
granting_institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
publishDate	2014
url	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51131/1/FPSK%28p%29%202015%201RR.pdf
_version_	1747812057423544320
spelling	my-upm-ir.511312017-03-23T09:16:27Z Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia 2014-11 Ng, Yee Guan This study intend to determine the effectiveness of an integrated ergonomics interventions approach, highly promoted by International Labour Organization to resolve ergonomics issues specifically among oil palm harvesters and to improve Occupational Safety and Health aspects of the workplace during early harvesting stage in oil palm plantation. Methodology: Divided into two phases, the first phase of the cross-sectional design involved 446 male respondents working as harvesters (263 fresh fruit bunch (FFB) cutters; 183 FFB collectors). Questionnaires were used to collect information on sociodemographic data, occupational history, social lifestyle, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and productivities data. Video recording was used to assist postural assessment of harvesters using Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). An intervention package based on Participatory Action Oriented Training (PAOT) approach were subsequently designed and implemented in the second phase of the study. The intervention program features video, interactive lectures, games and action checklist. Two instruments were used to assess the effectiveness; knowledge, attitude and practice as well as body symptom questionnaire. Besides that, qualitative observation were also used to determine physical improvement or change from the intervention program. Results: Ergonomics risk factors particularly awkward postures, repetitive motion and forceful exertion were predominant among harvesters (both FFB cutters and FFB collectors) in oil palm plantation. Evidently, the 12 months and 7 days prevalence of MSDs at any body parts were 86% and 45% for respective duration. Lower back pain was the most commonly self-reported symptoms followed by knee neck and shoulder for both FFB cutters and FFB collectors. Significant risk factors of MSDs among the harvesters such as education level, body mass index, awkward postures, daily working and resting hours, working overtime and hobby (fishing) explain some but not all of the risk factors. Significant productivity loss were also observed among harvesters with acute MSDs where they were almost 3 times likely to be still working (presenteeism, OR=2.87; CI=1.34, 6.14) but produce only half as much as their healthy (without MSDs) colleagues (daily productivity, OR=2.09, CI=1.02, 4.29). The ergonomics intervention, PAOT approach were successfully implemented despite severely unanticipated and unavoidable limitations. The post-intervention assessment indicates that although the total knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) score increased within IG (Friedman test, χ2=16.831, p<0.01), there were however no significant difference as compared to CG. In terms of MSDs, the post-intervention assessment were not effective to reduce the prevalence of MSDs within the intervention group (IG) as well as between control group (CG). Conclusion: Findings in this study indicates that effective intervention strategy among oil palm harvesters during early harvesting stage is crucially required considering the health effect in terms of MSDs and the productivity loss. Despite being reported effective in various other agricultural application, the application of PAOT approach did not indicate effectiveness on multinational corporate oil palm plantation potentially attributable to the severe limitation of this study. Thus, it is recommended that future research work consider the limitations as reported in this study besides further exploration of other ergonomics risk factors and biomechanics of harvesting tasks using prospective research design. Occupational Health - Manpower - Malaysia Occupational Health - Education - Malaysia Occupational Health - Ethics 2014-11 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51131/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/51131/1/FPSK%28p%29%202015%201RR.pdf application/pdf en public phd doctoral Universiti Putra Malaysia Occupational Health - Manpower - Malaysia Occupational Health - Education - Malaysia Occupational Health - Ethics

Effectiveness of integrated ergonomics intervention approach in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among oil palm harvesters in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

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