Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) in Construction Workers and Main Causes

Construction industry still is characterized with physically demanding work duties despite the ongoing modernization of new technology. Construction work requires physical and psychosocial effort, working in compulsory and awkward postures. WRMSD are the most common health problems among employees in construction. The aim of this study was to determine WRMSD reasons caused by physical load and psychosocial risks at work for painters and tilers in the construction enterprise. Results of the study shows that causes of WRMSD in employed in construction, are not only physical risks at work, but also psychosocial risks, as well as individual attitude towards one’s own health.

Evaluation of Mechanical and Structure Properties of Electron Beam Cross-Linked Ethylene-Octene Copolymer Nanocomposites with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Recently, ionizing radiation has found an application in nanotechnology especially attributed to the improvement of nanocomposites. In the present paper, we have developed and evaluated radiation cross-linked nanocomposites made of ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) with 0-15 wt.% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and irradiated by 5 MeV accelerated electrons. The influence of combined factors of MWCNT filler content and the irradiation up to 150 kGy on the tensile stress-strain properties at 25–50°C was analysed. The cross-linking efficiency was also evaluated. The results indicated improvement in tensile properties with an increase of MWCNT content and the irradiation up to 150 kGy d…

Insomnia management for ageing employees with job stress

In Latvia, the number of aging employees suffering from sleep disorders caused by job stress and poor sleep hygiene is increasing. The non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment is prescribed for these employees in the sleep management. The aim of this research is to clarify the efficiency of using psychotherapy with learning and observing sleep hygiene, combined with the melatonergic drug during a six-week treatment course applied to 25 both male and female intellectual workers over 65 years suffering from insomnia caused by job stress. For the patients representing Group "A" cognitive hypnotherapy, intervention for improving coping with job stress and usage of the melatonergic drug was…

Physical Workload Analysis in Processing Operations: Metal Processing Manufacturing

The aim of this study is to perform physical workload analysis in metal processing industry operations (assembly operators, packaging operators and inspection staff) using objective ergonomics research methods based on the heart rate monitoring and muscle fatigue. The study was carried out in a medium sized metal manufacturing enterprise in Latvia in the department of manufacturing of ironing boards. Assembly, packaging operators and inspection staff agreed to take part in the objective heart rate monitoring and muscle myotonometry measurements. Results show that workers are at high risk of developing WMSDs, since they are subjected to heavy manual work and load on muscles during work. Acco…

Possibilities of Using Lean and Efficiency Improvement Methodologies in Service Area

According to The Toyota Way (Liker, 2004), Lean is a philosophy that was initiated by Henry Ford and later finalized by Toyota in Japan in the 50s and 60s. years. Lean helps to gain a competitive advantage, reduce production costs, deliver high quality products to the customer, and ensure profitability by implementing Lean thinking and tools. Lean and related efficiency improvement methodologies (Lean) are used most in the industrial manufacturing companies and operations, there is little work that researched use of Lean in the service industry. The main goal of the study is to research use of Lean among service area companies in Latvia, define prerequisites for success and measure relevant…

The effects of a medical hypnotherapy on clothing industry employees suffering from chronic pain.

Abstract Background Problems associated with pain in several body regions due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs), repetitive movement and negative stress at work are quite common in many manufacturing industries of Latvia, int.al. clothing industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficiency of the psychotherapeutic intervention using medical hypnotherapy (MH) program for mind-body relaxation with pain-blocking imagery, cognitive restructuring of unpleasant physical and emotional experience. Methods 300 sewers and 50 cutters with chronic pain were involved in the study. Self-rated WRMDs symptoms, pain intensity and interference were assessed using the extended version o…

Stress at Work and Physical Load in Professional Sport

Various professional sports have reached a high level of development. Stress at athletes’ work partly characterizes quality of psycho-emotional work environment. Psychological effects caused by stress frequently change into physical effects. At the same time, it should be noted that athletes do not receive adequate attention from the occupational health and safety point of view. The aim of the research was to investigate influence of work stress and physical load on professional volleyball athletes during trainings in comparison with volleyball competitions. The results reveal that the volleyball players are generally exposed to physical load (94%) and 82% - to work stress and other psycho-…

Human Factor and LEAN Analysis at Industrial Manufacturing Plants

The aim of the research was to find out effective identification and prevention of ergonomics problems in industrial metal processing manufacturing plant, based on human factor workload analysis and LEAN failure mode and effect analysis. Creation of safe, effective work places, emphasizing human oriented approach and implementing ergonomics in business process management is one of the main conditions for sustainable development of an enterprise. For the research were chosen packaging, assembling and quality control manufacturing plant operations due to main complaints from workers about physical overload, intensive work pace and task complexity. Human factor analysis provides holistic under…

Human Resource Development Opportunities in Latvian Health Care Organization

The aim of the research was to investigate the existing human resource management in a health care organization and develop guidelines for improvement, based on the analysis of the theory and empirical research results. In the research a leading health care organization in Latvia was selected. In total, the organization employs over 1300 people, including more than 600 doctors. The study analyzed in two departments: medical center and health center. Several research methods were applied, incl. SWOT analysis, survey and statistical data analysis. The results of the research indicate that employees lack knowledge and motivation that affects their development and career opportunities in the or…

Causes of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Textile Industry

In Latvia textile industry workers suffer from work-related muscular skeletal disorders (WRMSD). The aim of the research is to study the causes of WRMSDs for the tailor’s profession in a medium- sized enterprise. This research involved 120 tailors. Modified Standardized Nordic questionnaire, Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion, Key indicator method was used for analysis of physical workload during manual handling operations. Main survey results show that tailors suffer from pain in shoulders, wrists and fingers, have repetitive arm movements in sitting compulsory work position. Accordingly to Key indicator method tailors refer to hard work level but Borg scale results indicates the load betwee…

Ergonomic Risks in the Printing Company and Workers’ Wellbeing

The aim of the study was to analyze the ergonomic risks in the printing company and to study the impact of ergonomics risks on employees’ wellbeing. The study involved 67 company workers aged 18 to 67 years. In the study, physical load evaluation methods and questionnaire on welfare and psychoemotional risks at work, adopted by Swedish Environmental Research Institute, were used. It was proved that production workers were subjected to increased physical workload. At work they are exposed to physical pressure on hands, shoulders and back. The workload is more affected by the increase in work tension due to limited time of order execution. It was concluded that ergonomic risks partly affect e…

Ergonomic Indicators and Physical Workload Risks in Food Production and Possibilities for Risk Prevention

The food industry is the most important and largest manufacturing industry in Latvia, producing almost a third of all manufacturing output. Employees in a food production enterprises are exposed to a variety of ergonomic risks: monotonous work movements that can be repeated up to 1000 times a day, overloads that exceeds 30 kg in lifting and moving operations, forced working postures, fast work pace. The aim of the study was to identify ergonomic indicators related to physical load for packers in one medium-sized company producing potato starch in Latvia. When summarizing the results of the survey on burden-lifting rates, it should be noted that, in a shift, 30% of packers lift the burden fr…

Physical Load Among Construction Workers and Analysis with Objective Ergonomics Research Method

There is growing number of work related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in construction industry. Employees in construction professions admit physical load and discomfort in various body parts after the work. Accordingly to Eurostat statistical data 60 % of total work related diseases are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders in Latvia. The aim of this study was to determine physical load of construction auxiliary workers and bricklayers using objective ergonomics research method HR monitoring and subjective ergonomic risk assessment methods. The research involved full time 8 auxiliary construction workers and 7 bricklayers. Analysis of the heart rate monitoring data proved that o…

Measuring Muscle Fatigue in Relation to the Workload of Health Care Workers

Abstract Number of work related musculoskeletal disorders due to ergonomics risks among workers in Europe, including Latvia, is growing. Employees in health care professions admit physical load and discomfort in various body parts after the shift. According to Eurostat statistical data 60% of total work related diseases are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders in Latvia. The aim of this study was to determine the muscle fatigue caused by physical load for surgeons, anaesthetists and geneticists in one of the largest Hospitals in Latvia. The research involved 9 surgeons, 9 anaesthetists and 7 geneticists with chronic pain (for four months or more) in the neck, shoulders, arms, hands and l…

Improvement of mechanical and dielectric properties of ethylene–octene copolymer by multi‐walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with poly(2,2′‐bithiophene)

Physical Load and Preventive Measures in Metal Manufacturing Industry

In today’s advanced work environment, workers are still exposed to ergonomic risks in the work environment and employees are exposed physically hard work that includes moving loads and frequent repetitive movements at fast pace. For the ergonomic risk analysis and workload assessment, three work operations with the high physical activity were selected: the welder’s workplace, the ironing board sorting line and the ironing board’s packing station. Subjective and objective ergonomics research methods were used. Research results show that employees in selected work operations are exposed to a fast work speed and often, monotonous movements at the sorting line and lifting heavy loads at the iro…

Assessment of skeletal muscle fatigue of road maintenance workers based on heart rate monitoring and myotonometry

Abstract Objective This research work is dedicated to occupational health problems caused by ergonomic risks. The research object was road building industry, where workers have to work very intensively, have long work hours, are working in forced/constrained work postures and overstrain during the work specific parts of their bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the work heaviness degree and to estimate the muscle fatigue of workers after one week work cycle. The study group consisted of 10 road construction and maintenance workers and 10 pavers aged between 20 and 60 years. Methods Physical load were analyzed by measuring heart rate (HR), work postures (OWAS) and perceived exertio…