Financial impact and causes of chronic musculoskeletal disease cases in Malaysia based on social security organization of Malaysia claims record

This paper analyzed total direct cost that is paid by the Social Security Organization of Malaysia (SOCSO) to the Malaysian workers due to musculoskeletal disease. The objectives of this study are 1) to determine the total direct costs incurred as a result of cases of chronic musculoskeletal injuries that was approved by SOCSO from 2009 to 2014 and 2) to examine the age category imposed for the total average cost of the highest MSDs claims for the four categories setting. The data provided by SOCSO on occupational diseases and adopt the top-down approach which includes of 416 claims reported between 2009 and 2014. The categories recorded are the highest total direct cost for types of industries, types of injury, causes of accident and type of body parts. The age claimant is then identified from total average cost earned from the highest total direct cost of the four categories. Manufacturing industry, strenuous movement, sprain and strain and back are recorded as highest total direct cost with the cost of RM 5,181,282.34, RM 7,088,839.51, RM 8,753,975.13, and RM 5,526,590.69, respectively. The age group of 35 – 44 years is recorded as the highest total average cost of these four parameters. This study will provide the basis for future studies and intervention on MSD related injuries in working environment in Malaysia

Physical fatigue assessment for intrastate bus driver

Fatigue is considered a psychological or mental fatigue type characterized by subjective feelings of a disinclination to continue driving, drowsiness, fatigue, and deduction motivation. Bus drivers in Malaysia have been facing physical fatigue from driving for many years. Therefore, investigating the psychophysiological factor that related to fatigue could improve understanding and management for fatigue in the transport industry. Physical factors are divided by two parts that is upper and lower body. The objective of this study is to identify the cause, determine the level and analyze the physical fatigue on bus driver. There were two methods applied in this study, which were Modified Nordic Questionnaires that represent subjective measurement and surface Electromyography (sEMG) the objective measurement. Results from sEMG showed neck and upper back muscle groups leads to fatigue as the muscle is running out of energy based from the graph. Through the sEMG data, it can determine the level of physical fatigue on bus driver and analyzed the physical fatigue. Findings of this study from the questionnaire data analysis using the Statistical Package Social Science software, it is proved that physical fatigue really occurred to the intrastate bus driver. Results also showed significant correlation relationship between physical and mental

Optimization of Temperature and Relative Humidity with Maximum Oxygen Uptake (VO2max) and Heart Rate (HR) by Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

The purpose of this study is to optimize the temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions of the worker heat stress and human physiological performance namely as Maximum Oxygen Uptake (VO2max) and heart rate (HR) in the construction (outdoor environment) and manufacturing (indoor environment) environment. Heat stress assessment was conducted at the workplace with two parameters of heat and relative humidity for indoor and outdoor setting conditions. The response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized in this study to analyze the results and finally to optimization the relationship of both setting for indoor and outdoor. A total number of 26 experimental runs were carried out with three male of voluntary respondents. The experiments were conducted in a well design climatic chamber with capabilities to simulate the indoor, outdoor temperature and relative humidity parameter of environments. The analysis showed that, for the indoor activities the parameter of VO2max and heart rate, the temperature and relative humidity (RH) exposed to human body should be optimized at 24.2 °C and RH at 45.8%. Meanwhile, for the outdoor activities, the temperature and RH exposed to human body should be optimized at 24.6 °C and RH at 72.5%. Therefore, these findings are in line with the current setting of comfort under ICOP IAQ 2010, DOSH Malaysia

Evaluation of whole body vibration and back pain problem among Light Rapid Transit (LRT) drivers

A cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate whole body vibration (WBV) and back pain problem among light rail transit (LRT) driver. This study was carried out to determine exposure level of whole body vibration and identify back pain problem due to whole body vibration exposure among LRT driver. Standardized Nordic questionnaire was used for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, to identify the prevalence of back pain, information about health history, working time duration, and working experiences was obtained from 52 drivers of light rail transit (LRT) train. HVM 100 Larson Davis was used to measure whole body vibration measurement of eight LRTs with different vehicle number. The measurement of whole body vibration was done during operation working time. The data collected from HVM 100 were transferred to the Blaze software for getting the vibration magnitude of the experiment while data collected from survey were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for statistical analysis. The analysis of graph patterns and the differentiation of magnitude value from each LRT were studied to determine the exposure level of vibration. A high prevalence of back pain (82.7%) among LRT drivers was found and high daily exposure level was obtained. The finding showed that, there are relations between back pain and daily vibration exposure which resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.709, with significant at α = 0.05. In conclusion, it was expected that the individuals subjected to the high vibration levels would tend to report back pain

Human Responses to the Thermal Comfort in Air-Conditioned Building: A Climate Chamber Study

One of the challenges for engineers in designing comfort indoor environments is merging the need of energy savings and thermal comfort of the occupants. However, to assess complex heterogeneous environments created by novel building systems, there is a need for choosing more sophisticated and precise tools. There are many best ways to evaluate thermal comfort, at the same time the most cost and time-consuming one, various modelling tools are widely used.  In this paper, we present a human climate chamber as a methodology for indoor environmental research, to predict the thermal comfort. Along with presenting this methodology, the human climate chamber was demonstrated on five supply temperature representing the indoor environment such as conditions for which thermal sensation was predicted with satisfactory accuracy. Based on the presented results, the overall thermal sensation on the body will be influenced mainly by those body segments that have a greatest thermal sensation under different condition's environment (supply temperature). The overall thermal comfort will follow the warmest environment (26 oC and 29 oC) and the coldest in a cool environment (19 oC and 23 oC). Furthermore, the overall thermal comfort will closely follow the parts of the body that feel the most uncomfortable in a cool or warm environment. The study found that supply temperature at the 23 oC indicates that the PMV is comfortable. The value of PMV in a supply temperature set at 23 oC is 0.26. This study contributes to the body knowledge of thermal comfort towards human in the building

Human Climate Chamber: A Tool for Predicting Thermal Comfort in Air Conditioned Building

One of the challenges for engineers designing indoor environments is merging the need for energy savings with providing thermally comfortable conditions for the occupants. Since the best way to evaluate thermal comfort, at the same time the most cost and time-consuming one, various modelling tools are widely used. However, to assess complex heterogeneous environments created by novel building systems, there is a need for more sophisticated and precise tools. In this paper, we present a human climate chamber methodology for indoor environmental research, to predict thermal sensation, and a thermal sensation model. Along with presenting this methodology, the human climate chamber was demonstrated on ï¬ve supply temperature representing the indoor environment like conditions for which thermal sensation was predicted with satisfactory accuracy. Based on the presented results, the overall thermal sensation on the body will be influenced mainly by those body segments that have a greatest thermal sensation under different condition's environment (supply temperature). The overall thermal comfort will follow the warmest environment (26 oC and 29 oC) and the coldest in a cool environment (19 oC and 23 oC). Furthermore, the overall thermal comfort will closely follow the parts of the body that feel the most uncomfortable in a cool or warm environment. The study found that supply temperature at the 23 oC indicates that the PMV is comfortable. The value of PMV in a supply temperature set at 23 oC is 0.26

Ergonomic Training Reduces Musculoskeletal Disorders among Office Workers: Results from the 6-Month Follow-Up

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are commonly reported among computer users. This study explored whether these disorders can be reduced by the provision of ergonomics education. Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in which 3 units were randomised for intervention and received training, and 3 units were given a leaflet. The effect of intervention on workstation habits, musculoskeletal disorders, days and episodes of sick leave, and psychological well-being were assessed. Results: A significant improvement in workstation habits was found, and the differences remained significant at the follow-up time point for keyboard, mouse, chair, and desk use. The largest reduction in the percentage of musculoskeletal disorders was in the neck region (-42.2%, 95% CI -60.0 to -24.4). After adjusting for baseline values, significant differences were found at the follow-up time point in the neck, right shoulder, right and left upper limbs, lower back, and right and left lower limbs. No significant differences were found for the days and episodes of sick leave or the psychological well-being among workers after the intervention. Conclusion: Consistent reductions were observed for all musculoskeletal disorders at the follow-up time point, although the difference was not statistically significant for the upper back. The improvements in the musculoskeletal disorders did not translate into fewer days lost from work or improved psychological well-being

Knowledge, attitude and practice of MSD injuries from Malaysian employer perspective

This study aims to assess the level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) on Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from employer perspectives in Malaysia industries. A newly developed KAP questionnaire was distributed and answered by 45 employers. Most employers show good scores to the majority of items in Knowledge, Attitude and Practices sections. Pearson correlation is used in order to test the relationship between KAP scores and demographic profile and also KAP variables. It was found that knowledge has strong correlation r=0.291, p>0.05 with gender. The attitude component has a strong correlation (r=0.344, p>0.05) with age group. Whereas the practices component has good correlation with education level (r=0.249, p>0.05). However, the KAP variables show only knowledge and practices have a strong correlation(r=0.271, p>0.05).MSDs cases are increasing hence understanding the underlying KAP factors are crucial in order to tackle the problem

Knowledge, attitude and practices of musculoskeletal disorder injuries from Malaysian industries employers' perspective

This study aims to assess the level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) on Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from employers’ perspectives in Malaysia industries. A newly developed KAP questionnaire was distributed and answered by 45 employers. Most employers showed good scores in the majority of items in Knowledge, Attitude and Practices sections. Pearson correlation was used in order to test the relationship between KAP scores and demographic profile and also KAP variables. It was found that knowledge has strong correlation r=0.291, p>0.05 with gender. The attitude component has a strong correlation (r=0.344, p>0.05) with age group. Whereas the practices component has good correlation with education level (r=0.249, p>0.05). However, the KAP variables show only knowledge and practices have a strong correlation (r=0.271, p>0.05). MSDs cases are increasing hence understanding the underlying KAP factors are crucial in order to tackle the problem

Musculoskeletal disorders in body regions and its associated risk factors among electronic workers in Malaysia

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) among workers is a major cause of lost workdays in industries and also accounted for the highest rate of disability among workers. (WHO 2003, Gallagher and Heberger 2012). It has led to loss of productivity and has become a high financial burden on national health systems (Chiasson et al. 2012, Gallagher and Heberger 2012). These negative effects needs to be prevented, as much as possible, especially in developing countries whose industries are just developing, and such effects can constitute serious obstacle to their drive for industrialization . This serves as justification for this study, which investigated MSD among Malaysian workers, and also developed a model highlighting the direct and indirect effect of physical and psychosocial factors on workers satisfaction