Affiliations: Department of Manufacturing and Industrial
Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing, Universiti
Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, Malaysia | Department of Manufacturing and Industrial
Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
Skudai, Malaysia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Mohd Nasrull Abdol Rahman,
Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering and Manufacturing, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM),
86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. Tel.: +60 7453 7814; Fax: +60
7453 6080; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the work-related
musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among workers in wall plastering jobs within
the construction industry. Participants: A total of 43 workers within three workplaces
participated in the study. Methods: Subjects were interviewed using self-report charts. During
the task duration, observation of the workplace was carried out using a
Workplace Ergonomic Risk Assessment (WERA) method. Results: An analysis of WERA assessment, the wrist score for WERA
body part was >4 in 86% of workers, while wrist pain or discomfort was
reported by 86%, yielding a significant association between WERA body part
score and self-reported pain (χ ^{2}= 16.12; p=0.000).
The WERA body part score for the shoulder regions during wall plastering job
yielded a score > 4 in 93% and caused shoulder pain or discomfort in 91%,
the association being significant (χ ^{2}=12.58;
p=0.000). The back regions for WERA body part score was >4 in 91% of
workers, with 98% reporting pain or back discomfort, with a significant
association (χ^{2}=9.98; p=0.002). Conclusions: These results showed that statistically significance
for the wrist, shoulder and back regions of the individual WERA body part
scores were affecting the worker and lead to the development of pain or
discomfort among workers in wall plastering jobs.
