A pilot study: Exploring the musculoskeletal risk exposure associated with drying laundry using the public housing pipe-socket system amongst women in Singapore

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rui, Lee Hong^{a; *} | Cheung, Therma Wai Chun^a | Zixian, Yang^a | Pratt, Anna L.^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Therapy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore | [b] Division of Occupational Therapy and Clinical Nursing, Brunel University London, UK

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Lee Hong Rui, Department of Occupational Therapy, SGH Rehabilitation Center, National Heart Center Level 7, 169609 Singapore. Tel.: +65 6326 5325; Fax: +65 6221 3923; E-mail: lee.hong.rui@sgh.com.sg.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The biomechanics of homemakers has been minimally studied. The way laundry-drying is performed in Singapore public-housing, using the pipe-socket-system (PSS), could expose the homemakers to musculoskeletal disorder risk. OBJECTIVE:This study aims to quantify the musculoskeletal risk exposure (MRE) associated with laundry-drying amongst female homemakers using the PSS in Singapore public-housing. METHODS:Using snowball sampling approach, five female homemakers familiar with the described laundry-drying method were recruited. The postures of the participants were analysed from video-recorded data and scored using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). RESULTS:This pilot study revealed very strong evidence (p = 0.001) that the participants were exposed to medium risk (REBA score 4.3) when performing this housework task. CONCLUSIONS:Extreme awkward postures and repetitive motions were observed from the participants during the analysis. High REBA scores were frequently associated with the awkward postures adopted due to constraints of physical work space.

Keywords: Ergonomics, homemakers, housework, biomechanical risk, biomechanics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-182809

Journal: Work, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 449-461, 2018