Risk Factors Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Professional Vehicle Drivers in India Using an Ordinal Priority Approach

Gajender Sharma, Shafi Ahmad, Z. Mallick, Zahid A. Khan, Ajith Tom James, Mohammad Asjad, Irfan Anjum Badruddin (), Sarfaraz Kamangar, Syed Javed, Azam Ali Mohammed and N. Ameer Ahammad
Additional contact information
Gajender Sharma: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
Shafi Ahmad: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
Z. Mallick: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
Zahid A. Khan: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
Ajith Tom James: Operations & IT Department, ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad 500075, India
Mohammad Asjad: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
Irfan Anjum Badruddin: Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Sarfaraz Kamangar: Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Syed Javed: Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Azam Ali Mohammed: Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
N. Ameer Ahammad: Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia

Mathematics, 2022, vol. 10, issue 23, 1-29

Abstract: Professional driving involves sitting in uncomfortable positions, navigating difficult terrain and roads, and occasionally conducting small repairs and other auxiliary transportation duties while at work for long periods. Drivers who engage in these activities may develop a variety of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs in professional drivers are accompanied by several risk factors. In this study, the various risk factors for MSD have been identified through the literature reviews, discussions with professional drivers, and consultations with ergonomics specialists. This study employed the ordinal priority approach (OPA), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, to rank the identified risk variables for MSD in order of importance. The same OPA method has also been used to identify the group of professional drivers who use eight different types of vehicles and are more likely to develop MSDs. The analyses findings show that the five main risk factors for MSDs among drivers are prolonged sitting, restricted posture, working hours, alcohol consumption, and uncomfortable seating. Additionally, among all drivers regarded as professionals, truck drivers are found to be the most at risk. For the study’s conclusions to be validated, a sensitivity analysis was also carried out. The results of this study are anticipated to help formulate strategies for lowering these hazards through the ergonomic design of drivers’ cabins by automobile OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and vehicle scheduling by concerned transportation organizations to reduce driver tiredness.

Keywords: professional drivers; musculoskeletal disorder risk factors; multi-criteria decision-making; ordinal priority approach; sensitivity analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/10/23/4492/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/10/23/4492/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:10:y:2022:i:23:p:4492-:d:986934

Access Statistics for this article

Mathematics is currently edited by Ms. Emma He

More articles in Mathematics from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().