Effectiveness of a participatory ergonomics intervention to improve musculoskeletal health: A solomon four-group study among manufacturing workers in selangor, Malaysia

MOHD RAFEE BIN BAHARUDIN (A03654) / / ANITA BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN

A systematic review on risk factors for reduced lung function due to occupational respirable dust exposures; 2005 - 2015

Background: Occupational exposures to respirable dust includes various hazardous substances were commonly associated with acute and chronic health effects especially on respiratory system and lung function performance among workers in various industries. Objective: The purpose of this review was to identify the risk factors that lead to reduced lung function among workers due to occupational respirable dust exposure in the industry. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of articles related to occupational exposure and its effects on lung function among workers was compiled using a series of keywords in databases (ProQuest, PubMed and ScienceDirect). Studies that were conducted between 2005 to 2015, written in English and used a quantitative design that focus on occupational respirable dust exposure were included in this review. Result: Most of the studied reviewed concluded that there were at least two associated factors that caused the reduction of lung function among the subjects studied. These factors were later classified into two major factors namely occupational related factors and nonoccupational related factors. Conclusion: Risk factors influence the lung function test results among exposed workers in many ways, either through direct effect or due to combination effect such as synergistic action

Developing a risk control modifying matrix in assessing occupational stress in port terminal

Occupational stress is a universal phenomenon which lead to increase the adverse health effect, performance and general well-being of a worker. These problems need to be assess using a suitable risk assessment matrix. Current method available does not integrate the element of existing risk control measures. In this study, port terminal was chosen as a workplace due to its heavy daily operations.Based on the safety and health data available, a framework of this new proposed matrix was then developed accordingly.Thus, this paper explained the overall process of the development on Occupational Stress Risk Assessment Matrix (OSRAM) which emphasize on a risk control modifying matrix in the port termina

Developing a Construction Occupational Safety and Health Risk Assessment Matrix (COSHRAM) with modifying risk factors

Common Risk Assessment Matrix (RAM) is universal and can be apply in any industries. The aims of this paper is to develop a Construction Occupational Safety and Health Risk Assessment Matrix (COSHRAM) which can ideally improve the risk action plan. A new element of modifying factors has been incorporated to systematically justify the residual risks. The COSHRAM was developed on the basis of historical accident data and data collected from the field survey. Six (6) Safety and Health Officer (SHO) divided into three (3) groups were selected to conduct field trials. Each group has conducted risk assessment using both common RAM and COSHRAM. Overall, three (3) types of activities, including twenty-one (21) sub-activities and fifty-nine (59) hazards have been evaluated. Paired t-test showed that result of the assessment between the common RAM and COSHRAM was significantly different (t=17.083, p < 0.05). Therefore, the COSHRAM is statistically acceptable and it resulted in better in terms of estimating the risks than the common RAM

Occupational safety and health management system: practical guide for implementation

This book is written for individuals with a real interest in occupational safety and health management systems (OSHMS). It is useful for students in secondary schools or those on the road to get their certificate, diploma, degree, masters or doctorate. It is of definite use for OSH practitioners, professionals, OSH management representatives, safety and health officers, safety and health committee members, auditors, consultants, trainers and lecturers. In this book, you will learn how to establish an OSHMS through a step by step guide for implementation. A variety of examples provided in this book will give you a better understanding of each of those steps. Occupational Safety & Health Management System is an all-inclusive book covering the fundamental principles of OSHMS for certification. It explains the step by step approach in establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving each element of OSHMS. This book will be invaluable for OSH practitioners and professionals, OSH management representatives, safety and health officers, safety and health committee members, auditors, consultants, trainers as well as students pursuing OSH qualifications in tertiary institutions

Proportion of work-related injuries and its predictors among the staffs of a government medical school in Malaysia

The authors present the predictors and proportion of work-related injuries (WRI) among the staffs of a government medical school in Malaysia in this paper.The extent of WRI in a Malaysian public medical school has never been studied before..The main purpose of this study is to determine the proportion of WRI and its associated factors among the respondents. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 364 randomly selected Malaysian employees who worked for at least one year in the faculty.The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, employment and individual characteristics, as well as data on work-related injuries, suffered in the past 12 months. The results of the study showed thatout of 317 respondents who answered the questionnaire, seventeen of them (5.4%) had experienced WRI. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the support staff is 35.7times more likely to have WRIs (95% CI: 3.303-385.914), compared to the other group of respondents. In conclusion,theproportion of WRI among the respondents is high compared to those WRI that occurred among similar population in other countries. Predictors of WRI are very related to each other, but it is not impossible to reduce or remove it in order to lessen the rate of WRI. Based on the findings of this study, future research is needed to find out on why the employee in this institution need to do part-time work that will leave them feeling sleepy at work and eventually exposed them to higher risk of getting WRIs

Healthy workplaces in Europe and Malaysia

It is estimated that we spend at least a third of our working lives in the workplace and the duration of this, due to the extension of working lives through legislative changes and increased pension ages, is set to increase. Ageing of the workforce is a growing concern but health and safety issues cannot be used as an excuse for not employing older workers. A healthy workplace is one where the risks are managed and where workers and their managers work together to improve the work environment and protect the health of the workers. Furthermore, linking this to personal health resources and the local community can improve the health of all involved. Within the workplace this includes both the psychosocial and physical work environment. To create a healthy workplace there is a need to ensure risk management measures are in place and our older workers participation in risk assessment and risk reduction programmes. In addition to this, targeted occupational health promotion programmes may be beneficial. There are few integrated policies with regard to age and work but research does identify good practice, including participation of employees in change measures, senior management commitment and taking a life-course approach. While there are challenges in relation to age-related change, the work ability concept can improve understanding. The use of a comprehensive approach such as Age Management can help employers who have a critical role in making the workplace age-ready

Associations of blood lead and disciplinary behavior among male adolescents in Selangor, Malaysia

A cross sectional comparative study was conducted to determine the relationship between blood lead levels and disciplinary behaviour among adolescent males. This study involved 194 secondary school adolescents ranging from 14 to 16 years old in both Petaling and Hulu Langat district. Respondent sampling frame was obtained from the Ministry of Education. Finger-prick method was applied to obtain capillary blood specimen. Blood lead was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with graphite furnace. Both background and environmental profile were obtained from self-administered questionnaires. Disciplinary behaviour of each respondent was then assessed by using Self-Reporting Disciplinary Behaviour (SRDB). This assessment comprise 86 items on disciplinary actions and divided into eight subscales of offences which include crime, obscenity, self-cleanliness, time management, disrespect, vandalism, dishonesty and absenteeism. Total score for each items assessed were then calculated for behaviour score. Results showed that the mean of blood lead concentration is 4.6134 μg/dL (95% CI : 4.0146 - 5.2122 μg/dL). The mean of behavior scores calculated is 40.94. There is no significant difference found in the mean blood lead concentrations between adolescents with disciplinary actions and adolescents with no disciplinary actions (t = 0.708; p = 0.480). Findings showed that blood lead has no significant correlation between blood lead and behavior score (r = 0.74, p>0.05). There are significant correlation between PbB concentrations and both eating (r = 0.166*, p<0.05) and damaging canteen property (r=0.163*, p<0.05) respectively. In conclusion, this study revealed that the PbB concentration has no significant statistical correlation with disciplinary behavior among respondents

Development of mobile application in assessing commuting accident risk (CommuRisk) amongst commuters at Klang Valley

Introduction: Globally, commuting accident risks are always neglected in an organisation. There is a need to assess the impact of commuting accidents based on sociodemographic, human, vehicle, road, and environmental factors and to find suitable and effective mitigation strategies to alleviate the associated undesirable outcomes. Methods: This research was designed to develop a mobile application to assess commuting accident risk levels using artificial intelligence principles, as we are now in the 21st-century technology era. A total of 216 respondents from private and government industries participated in this study. Besides, to prove the developed application’s effectiveness, the study evaluated the effectiveness of the identified risk factor in determining the level of commuting risks predicted by respondents with the risk level calculated by the mobile application. Results: A major contribution of this paper is the effectiveness and accuracy of a mobile application known as CommuRisk. The app was developed using Android Studio and natively uses Java. There was a significant difference between with and without mobile applications in determining the level of commuting risks, and the effectiveness was proven with a (p-value = 0.001) at a 95% confidence interval with large sample size. Conclusion: Thus, this paper proved the effectiveness and accuracy of a mobile application in calculating risk levels exposed by commuters compared to risk levels predicted by commuters

An intervention of safety signs in selected primary school pupils in Perak state, Malaysia

In Malaysia, there are number of incidents highlighted by the media on school children incidents which caused injuries and death. Majority of incidents happen due to poor safety signage at the particular area where the hazards present. Current school guidelines did not specify any details on type of safety sign boards that should be in schools. So, the objective of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate the knowledge on safety signage on intervention and control group among the primary schools pupils in Perak state, Malaysia. The new design of safety signs will be intervene to reduce the unsafe act by school pupils and also to reduce the risk from unsafecondition. A cross sectional study was carried at 102 schools (91.9%) out of 111 schools in LMS district. The safety signage was designed according to MS2558:2014 standard. All the signages was added pictures and texts according to identified hazards from selected school. A self-administered questionnaires form was used to ask about the safety signage and risks. Intervention on new safety signs showed significant different between pretest, post-test 1 and post-test 2 (p<0.001). The pre-test, post-test 1 and post-test 2 result showed significant results and pupils were able to sustain the meaning of safety signage after three months’ time. The new design of safety signage able to promote safety among primary schools pupils