The impact of work-rest scheduling on prolonged standing activity

Abstract

Prolonged standing is one of the common activities in electronic industry as the task requirement. Prolonged standing can cause discomfort on the body of the workers and can lead to injury and occupational disease. One of the ergonomic intervention is through improved the work-rest schedule. The purpose of this study is to identify the fatigue level from the perception of the workers. Besides that, the objective of this study also to investigate the impact of the work-rest to the standing workers for 12 hours working time with a different gender. This study involved two methods which are self-assessment by conducting the interview and direct technical assessment by using electromyography (EMG). For direct assessment, it involved 80 workers has been interviewed in order to identify the current fatigue level. Then, EMG was attached to the 15 workers at the leg and lower back to analyse the muscle efforts. In terms of perception, the results show the domination of the lower body region with the higher mean at the lower back, legs, and foot ankle as discomfort pain and fatigue. There is a significant relation between gender and work-rest schedule. The results show short frequent break by 10 minutes can reduce the fatigue at the leg and infrequent long break is preferable in order to reduce the fatigue at the lower back. This study will provide a view for industrial consultants or ergonomist with evidence to support for ergonomic interventions for prolonged standing activity for work-rest schedule in order to reduce discomfort pain and fatigue.