Affiliations: [a] Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei, Taiwan
| [b] Department of Industrial Design, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dr. Yi-Lang Chen, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, 84 Gung-Juan Road, Taishan 24301, New Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Tel.: +886 2 29089899/Ext. 3103; Fax: +886 2 29085900; E-mail: ylchen@mail.mcut.edu.tw.
Abstract: This case study used the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to explore work that involves handling gas cylinders and to determine risk factors that may cause related injuries. The NMQ survey was distributed to 100 gas cylinder handlers in Taiwan, and their handling tasks were analyzed. The results showed that the overall prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 91% within 1 year. More than half of the respondents (62%) experienced shoulder discomfort, followed by lower back/waist (57%) and neck (47%) discomfort. Daily work hours (>10 h) were primary factors influencing the development of discomfort when handling gas cylinders, whereas the daily delivery frequency (>30 deliveries) was relevant to the prevalence of lower limb discomfort. Individual factors also substantially influenced upper body, lower back/waist, and knee discomfort (i.e., age, job tenure, and exercise). The findings of this study can serve as references in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders caused by performing gas cylinder handling tasks.
Keywords: Gas cylinder, handling task, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ)
