Ergonomic assessment in metal-based small industries in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in economic growth and employment, and they come with a greater risk of work-related illnesses for workers. Metal-based SMEs are recognised as the sector with the most demanding physical work activities and awkward postures, which are considered risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study analysed the risk factors of MSDs associated with different work postures during production. METHODS: Body postures were examined using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and the data on musculoskeletal symptoms were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). RESULTS: The results were calculated using the REBA method to determine the level of risk of various postures, namely, low risk (3.6%), medium risk (25.0%), high risk (60.7%), and very high risk (10.7%). The NMQ results indicated that most of the symptoms and discomfort were in the lower back (65%), wrist (45%), shoulder (35%), and ankle (35%) regions. CONCLUSIONS: The physical factors contributed more to the musculoskeletal symptoms in the body regions affected. The use of tools in lifting activities could decrease the level of risk.

Risk Perception of COVID-19 in Indonesia During the First Stage of the Pandemic.

Community perceptions of early-stage pandemics may have significant implications for subsequent disease control and management. Perceptions of COVID-19 among Indonesian citizens were assessed 2 months after the first reported case in the country. The study used an online survey tool, which was adapted from a standardized questionnaire for risk perception of an infectious disease outbreak. The questions of the survey involved respondents' perceived level of knowledge, preparedness, efficacy of control measures, newness, infectiousness, seriousness, motivating and hindering factors, and effectiveness of prevention methods, as well as questions that assessed actual level of knowledge of respondents such as causative agents, modes of transmission, number of total cases, and available control measures. A total of 1,043 respondents participated in this study. The main sources of information of respondents were social media (85.2%) and online news (82.2%). Nearly all respondents were aware that COVID-19 is a viral disease with saliva droplets (97.1%) and contaminated surfaces (86.5%) being its main modes of transmission. Participants showed a good level of knowledge pertaining to control measures, an adequate level of belief toward their efficacy, and a willingness to implement such measures. More than 95% of the respondents perceived COVID-19 to be either serious or very serious. However, the level of anxiety among respondents was moderate, suggesting the presence of risk tolerance in the community. Individual characteristics such as gender, educational background, and occupation were found to have a statistically significant relationship with risk perception and tolerance, but voluntary participation in control measures was high and similar. This indicates that the COVID-19 health campaign during early pandemic in Indonesia was a success. This research also revealed certain areas where health promotion, education, and awareness might be improved.

Ergonomic assessment in metal-based small industries in Bogor Regency, Indonesia, 2019

Objective: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in economic growth and employment, and they come with a greater risk of work-related illnesses for workers. Metal-based SMEs are recognised as the sector with the most demanding physical work activities and awkward postures, which are considered risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study analysed the risk factors of MSDs associated with different work postures during production. Methods: Body postures were examined using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and the data on musculoskeletal symptoms were collected using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Results: The results were calculated using the REBA method to determine the level of risk of various postures, namely, low risk (3.6%), medium risk (25.0%), high risk (60.7%), and very high risk (10.7%). The NMQ results indicated that most of the symptoms and discomfort were in the lower back (65%), wrist (45%), shoulder (35%), and ankle (35%) regions. Conclusions: The physical factors contributed more to the musculoskeletal symptoms in the body regions affected. The use of tools in lifting activities could decrease the level of risk. (AU)

A Safety Climate Framework for Improving Health and Safety in the Indonesian Construction Industry.

The Indonesian construction industry is the second largest in Asia and accounts for over 30% of all occupational injuries in the country. Despite the size of the industry, there is a lack of safety research in this context. This research, therefore, aims to assess safety climate and develop a framework to improve safety in the Indonesian construction industry. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 311 construction workers. The results show a moderately healthy safety climate but reflect numerous problems, particularly around perceived conflicts between production and safety logics, cost trade-offs being made against other competing project priorities, poor safety communication, poor working conditions, acceptance of poor safety as the norm, poor reporting and monitoring practices, poor training and a risky and unsupportive working environment which prevents workers from operating safely. Two new safety climate paradoxes are also revealed: contradictions between management communications and management practices; contradictions between worker concern for safety and their low sense of personal accountability and empowerment for acting to reduce these risks. A low locus of control over safety is also identified as a significant problem which is related to prevailing Indonesian cultural norms and poor safety policy implementation and potential conflicts between formal and informal safety norms, practices and procedures. Drawing on these findings, a new integrated framework of safety climate is presented to improve safety performance in the Indonesian construction industry.

Interaction between physical and psychosocial risk factors on the presence of neck/shoulder symptoms and its consequences.

This study aimed to quantify the interaction between physical and psychosocial factors on the presence of neck/shoulder symptoms (NSS) and its consequences (reduced activities and absenteeism) among 1294 coal mining workers in Indonesia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on current workplace exposure and NSS and its consequences. Participants were grouped into one of four combination exposure groups: low physical and low psychosocial (as the reference group); low physical and high psychosocial; high physical and low psychosocial, and high physical and high psychosocial (HPhyHPsy). The attributable proportion (AP) due to interaction between both factors was examined. Individuals in the HPhyHPsy group were most likely to report NSS [odds ratio (OR) 4.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.43-9.58], reduced activities (OR 3.90, 95% CI 2.36-6.43), and absenteeism (OR 3.91, 95% CI 2.11-7.25). This study has shown an interaction between physical and psychosocial factors that increases the OR of NSS (AP 0.49, 95% CI 0.08-0.89). Practitioner Summary: Although physical and psychosocial factors are known to be predictors for NSS, little is known about their interaction. Self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain information about physical and psychosocial factors at work. This study found an interaction between the physical and psychosocial risk factors that increases the odds ratio of NSS.

Interaction between physical and psychosocial work risk factors for low back symptoms and its consequences amongst Indonesian coal mining workers.

This study assessed the interaction between physical and psychosocial factors for low back symptoms (LBS) and its consequences (reduced activities and absenteeism) in a developing country. A sample of 1294 Indonesian coal mining workers reported occupational exposures, LBS and its consequences using a self-administered questionnaire. Respondents were placed into one of four combination exposure groups: high physical and high psychosocial (HPhyHPsy); high physical and low psychosocial (HPhyLPsy); low physical and high psychosocial (LPhyHPsy), and; low physical and low psychosocial (LPhyLPsy). The attributable proportion due to interaction between physical and psychosocial factors was examined. Individuals in the HPhyHPsy group were most likely to report LBS (OR 5.42, 95% CI 3.30-8.89), reduced activities (OR 4.89, 95% CI 3.09-7.74), and absenteeism (OR 4.96, 95% CI 3.05-8.06). Interactions between physical and psychosocial factors were present for LBS, reduced activities, and absenteeism; although for LBS and absenteeism the interactions were not significant. Current smokers were more likely to report LBS consequences. Permanent employment and night shift work increased the odds of LBS and its consequences. We conclude that interventions aimed at reducing LBS and its consequences should address both physical and psychosocial factors, with a focus on smokers, permanent employment and night shift work.

The combined effect of physical, psychosocial/organisational and/or environmental risk factors on the presence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and its consequences.

This study assessed the combined effect of physical and psychosocial/organisational and/or environmental factors on the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and its consequences (reduced activities and absenteeism due to MSS) in a random sample of 3003 workers in New Zealand. By telephone interview, participants reported their current workplace exposures and MSS (neck/shoulder, arm/elbow, wrist and low back) and its consequences. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Combined exposure to physical and psychosocial/organisational and/or environmental factors increased the odds of MSS in the neck/shoulder (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.79-5.52), arms/elbow regions (OR 4.14, 95% CI 2.21-7.76) and low back (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.28-2.37) and its consequences, i.e. reduced activities due to neck/shoulder symptoms (OR 5.45, 95% CI 2.28-13.00), absenteeism due to neck/shoulder symptoms (OR 5.19, 95% CI 2.24-12.01) and absenteeism due to low back symptoms (OR 4.37, 95% CI 2.92-6.53). In contrast, favourable psychosocial/organisational work conditions reduced the odds of wrist symptoms due to poor physical work conditions (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.44-3.34). We conclude that to reduce MSS and its consequences, employers need to adopt a multifaceted approach: concentrate on improving physical conditions as well as the psychosocial/organisational and environmental aspects of the working environment.

Prevalence of low back symptoms and its consequences in relation to occupational group.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) the prevalence of low back symptoms (LBS) and its consequences (reduced activities and absenteeism); (2) the association between occupational group and LBS; and (3) the association between LBS and its consequences. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of LBS in 1,294 Indonesian coal mining workers. A Cox proportional hazards model was developed to quantify the 12-monthly hazard of LBS. Logistic regression models were developed to identify risk factors for reduced activity and absenteeism from the workplace. RESULTS: The 12-month period prevalence for LBS, reduced activities, and absenteeism were 75%, 16%, and 13%, respectively. The 12-monthly hazard of LBS for blue-collar workers was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.06-3.25) times that of white-collar workers. LBS and smoking increased the risk of reduced activity and absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Indonesian coal mining workers have a high prevalence of LBS. The findings imply that efforts to reduce LBS and in the workplace should focus on blue-collar workers. For smokers who report reduced activities and/or absenteeism, there should be a focus on rehabilitation and/or return-to-work programs.

Gender differences in work-related risk factors associated with low back symptoms.

The prevalence of low back symptoms (LBS) in many working populations is high and differences in prevalence between genders are inconsistent. However, gender-specific risk factors for LBS have seldom been examined. Hence, the aim of the present study was to indicate gender-specific LBS risk factors. A sample of 3003 people was interviewed by telephone to get information about current workplace exposure and LBS. The risk of LBS for the whole population increased with work in awkward/tiring positions (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.12-1.68) and very/extremely stressful jobs (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.05-2.03). None of the explanatory variables were significantly associated with LBS for males but working in awkward/tiring positions (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04-2.20), dissatisfaction with contact and cooperation with management (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02-2.78) and finding their job to be very/extremely stressful (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.46-3.52) were significantly associated with LBS for females. Interventions to reduce LBS in workplaces should focus on reducing working in awkward/tiring positions, improving contact and cooperation with management, and reducing stressful jobs, especially amongst females. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: Strategies to prevent or reduce LBS should focus on reducing exposure to awkward or tiring positions at work, improving contact and cooperation with management, and reducing stressful jobs, especially for females.

Raising awareness of psychosocial factors in the occurrence of low back symptoms in developing countries.

Although there is strong evidence that single physical, psychosocial and organisational risk factors are each independent predictors of low back symptoms (LBS), little is known about their combination/interaction, particularly in those working in developing countries. A total of 1294 Indonesian coal mining industry workers reported information about physical, psychosocial, and organisational factors using self-reported questionnaires and were placed into one of four combination exposure groups: 1) high physical (working with bent trunk; whole body vibration exposure; lifting) and high psychosocial (high effort; low reward; work stress), 2) high physical and low psychosocial, 3) low physical and high psychosocial, and 4) low physical and low psychosocial (as the reference group). The odds of LBS in the high physical and high psychosocial group was 5.15 times (95% confidence interval 2.69-9.86) that of the reference group. Psychosocial factors played a more important role than physical factors in increasing the likelihood of reporting LBS. Permanent and night shift workers were more likely to report LBS. These findings imply that efforts to reduce LBS in this workplace should address both psychosocial and physical factors but psychosocial factors should be the priority, with a special focus on permanent and night shift workers.

Prevalence and work-related risk factors for reduced activities and absenteeism due to low back symptoms.

Although quite a lot is known about the risk factors for low back symptoms (LBS), less is known about the risk factors for the consequences of LBS. A sample of 3003 men and women randomly selected from the New Zealand Electoral Roll, were interviewed by telephone about self reported physical, psychosocial, organizational, environmental factors and the consequences of LBS (i.e. self-reported reduced activities and absenteeism). The 12-month period prevalence of reduced activities and absenteeism were 18% and 9%, respectively. Lifting (OR 1.79 95% CI 1.16-2.77) increased the risk of reduced activities. Working in awkward/tiring positions (OR 2.11 95% CI 1.20-3.70) and in a cold/damp environment (OR 2.18 95% CI 1.11-4.28) increased the risk of absenteeism. Among those with LBS, reduced activities increased with working in a hot/warm environment (OR 2.14 95% CI 1.22-3.76) and absenteeism was increased with work in awkward/tiring positions (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.13-3.77), tight deadlines (OR 1.89 95% CI 1.02-3.50), and a hot/warm environment (OR 3.35 95% CI 1.68-6.68). Interventions to reduce the consequences of LBS should aim to reduce awkward/tiring positions, lifting and work in a cold/damp environment. For individuals with LBS, additional focus should be to reduce tight deadlines, and work in hot/warm environments.