RULA: POSTURAL LOADING ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR MALAYSIA MINING INDUSTRY

Journal of Engineering Science and Technology

NIK MOHD ZUKI NIK MOHAMED¹  MUHAMAD ARIFPIN MANSOR²  AHMAD RASDAN ISMAIL²  NORHIDAYAH M. S.³ 

[1] Faculty of Technology Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia;Faculty of Creative Technology and Heritage, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan , Locked Bag 01, 16300 Bachok, Kota Bharu, Kelantan;Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan Pahang,Malaysia;

关键词: Ergonomics;    RULA;    Risk factor;    Mining;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The ergonomics and environment factors have been the core issue for the mining industry for many years, and its profiles are rising. To ensure an ergonomics work environment, it is possible to require specific attention especially in this industries sector. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the essential issue in Malaysia due to lack of ergonomics knowledge and low awareness among the engineers in the mining sector. The focus of this study is to evaluate and validate the physical risk factor associated with workrelated musculoskeletal disorder (WMSDs) by using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) among mining industry workers. All the physical risk factors involved the main body regions such as upper arm, lower arm, wrist, trunk, neck and leg that has been identified associated with WMSDs. There were 18 subjects selected to involve in this study. Those subjects were chosen according to their job task. To increase the reliability of the result, each subject was evaluated thrice in the trials. From the analysis, the average of final score of the RULA is 7 indicates high risk and calls for engineering/or work method changes to reduce or eliminate muscular disorder risk. The results of the analysis were used to improve the process of work, design of workstation and also improving the work posture to enhance the comfort level of operators. This study is crucial among the mining industry that is a lack of the information and research about the ergonomics issues in the industry. The overall finding indicated that the whole process of selected work task will contribute to musculoskeletal disorder either for a short or long time exposure.

【 授权许可】

Unknown