Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Most of employees in the developing countries are exposed to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to performing repetitive manual activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders by HAL-TLV, SI and OCRA methods and comparison with others.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted on 147 workers employed in industries with manual tasks. It was used HAL-TLV, SI and OCRA methods in order to consider the risk factors cousing MSDs. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was assessed by Nordic questionnaire. Finally, the data was analyzed by Cronbach's Alpha statistical test, Kendall's Tau-b correlation, Pearson and Concordance coefficient c.

Results: The final grade of HAL-TLV in 31.3% of individuals was in range of danger. The mean final score of SI and OCRA was in range of high risk and moderate risk (7.79 and 4.86), respectively. There was a linear and direct relationship between OCRA-HAL and OCRA-SI methods for classified and unclassified data, respectively (Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient= 0.608 and Concordance coefficient c= 0.963 and P-Value< 0.001).

Conclusion: There was a good correlation between the risk assessment of the methods. It should be paid  attention to the undertaken activities and the factors involved in selective method such as hand-wrist posture, movements repetition rate, severity and from of force exertion, vibration and also type and weight of tool used in order to evaluate the upper limbs disorders in manual activities.

Key words: Upper limb disorders, Repetitive manual activities, Ergonomic assessment methods.

Funding: This research was funded by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical Approval: This Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Department of Occupational Health approved the study.

How to cite this article: Negahban AR, Jalali M, Meshkani M, Rahimpoor R. Evaluation of Risk Factors in Musculoskeletal Disorders by HAL-TLV, SI and OCRA Methods and Comparison with other Methods. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2014 13(9): 749-64. [Farsi]