New Challenges Regarding the Intervention of Musculoskeletal Risk in Truck Service Garages

Coral Oliver Hernández, Shimeng Li, María José Aguado Benedí and Inmaculada Mateo Rodríguez
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Coral Oliver Hernández: Department of Social, Work and Differential Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
Shimeng Li: Interuniversity Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain
María José Aguado Benedí: Department of Social, Work and Differential Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
Inmaculada Mateo Rodríguez: Andalusian School of Public Health, 18080 Granada, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The automotive industry is heavily affected by sick leaves caused by the handling of loads and using postures that produce musculoskeletal disorders. Research is needed to analyse their causes and find possible solutions to eliminate or mitigate these risks. Objective: Our objective was to analyse the level of musculoskeletal risk in the different work tasks performed by truck and bus mechanics. Our intention is also to analyse whether postural training and feedback can help reduce risk. Methods: The rapid entire body assessment (REBA) was used to assess the postures performed by 35 mechanics from eight branches throughout Spain. The participants were subsequently divided randomly into two groups (experimental group and control group). The experimental group (EG) was given training and feedback on their postures and the control group (CG) was not offered any type of intervention. A few months after the initial assessment, their postural load in the usual tasks was re-evaluated. Results: An overall average REBA Score: 10.49 ± 1.33. The main risk was found in the trunk and arms with sustained above-the-head postures. EG’s second results are significantly improved compared to the first ( p = 0.026 *). Conclusions: These jobs have a high-risk level of musculoskeletal disorders. The course of action presented with postural training and feedback has shown satisfactory results. Nevertheless, given the size of the sample, further research will be needed to delve deeper into this possibility as a future line of intervention.

Keywords: REBA method; automotive; postural feedback; musculoskeletal disorders; ergonomic training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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