Resumo

RODRIGUEZ MARQUEZ, Eliana del Valle  e  MANERO ALFERT, Rogelio. Comprehensive evaluation of musculoskeletal risk for different occupations. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2008, vol.16, n.1, pp.17-26. ISSN 1315-0138.

This study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate musculoskeletal risk conditions for 31 different jobs, while simultaneously evaluating the ability of a new model for ergonomic evaluation to adequately estimate level of risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The physical capacity of each worker was evaluated using the step test, and physical work demands were assessed using the REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) and MODSI (Simple Model for Integral Evaluation of Risks of Musculoskeletal Disorders) methods. Physical environment, physical load and psychological factors were studied using the LEST (Economics and Sociology of Labor Laboratory) method. Results showed that subjects generally performed within a safe physiologic range. Noise was the most important workplace environmental factor; for psychosocial factors, initiative and social status were associated with adverse effect potential. Biomechanical evaluation indicated that working posture was the most important stressor. Finally, incompatible ergonomic findings were highlighted, training on good postural practices and task enrichment were recommended, along with engineering changes according to working capacity load. After incorporating physiological and psychosocial considerations, the risk level category was increased for 32% of jobs when evaluated using the MODSI method. Recommendations are made for improvement of this model.

Palavras-chave : human engineering; biomechanics; musculoskeletal system; injuries.