Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 41 in total

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  1. Heavy metals found in the breathing zone, toenails and lung function of welders working in an air-conditioned welding workplace
    Hariri A, Mohamad Noor N, Paiman NA, Ahmad Zaidi AM, Zainal Bakri SF
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2018 Dec;24(4):646-651.
    PMID: 28849717 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1368950
    Welding operations are rarely conducted in an air-conditioned room. However, a company would set its welding operations in an air-conditioned room to maintain the humidity level needed to reduce hydrogen cracks in the specimen being welded. This study intended to assess the exposure to metal elements in the welders' breathing zone and toenail samples. Heavy metal concentration was analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The lung function test was also conducted and analysed using statistical approaches. Chromium and manganese concentrations in the breathing zone exceeded the permissible exposure limit stipulated by Malaysian regulations. A similar trend was obtained in the concentration of heavy metals in the breathing zone air sampling and in the welders' toenails. Although there was no statistically significant decrease in the lung function of welders, it is suggested that exposure control through engineering and administrative approaches should be considered for workplace safety and health improvement.
  2. Self-perceived mental well-being amongst Malaysian dentists
    Ab-Murat N, Mason L, Kadir RA, Yusoff N
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2018 Jun;24(2):233-239.
    PMID: 28010176 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1268869
    PURPOSE: To assess Malaysian dentists' perceptions of their mental well-being.

    METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was developed based on a conceptual framework of mental health and well-being model. Two aspects were assessed, namely the physiological (two domains) and the psychological (six domains). Participants were asked to rate their experiences of the aforementioned aspects using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from all the time to never.

    RESULTS: The response rate was 81%. Most of the dentists (61.7%) perceived having positive mental well-being. Under the physiological aspect, most respondents reported that they were 'generally happy' (93.3%), but about 30% stated they were 'stressed physically and emotionally'. Of the six domains under the psychological aspect, positive well-being was observed in the 'sense of coherence' and 'behavioural stress' domains. Participants who were above 40 years old, married and had children reported having a more positive mental well-being when compared with their counterparts.

    CONCLUSION: Overall, most Malaysian dentists perceived having a positive mental well-being. It is crucial, however, to closely monitor and initiate early interventions for those with negative symptoms to ensure the safe practice of dentistry.

  3. An ergonomics study of a semiconductors factory in an IDC for improvement in occupational health and safety
    Bin WS, Richardson S, Yeow PH
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2010;16(3):345-56.
    PMID: 20828490
    The study aimed to conduct an ergonomic intervention on a conventional line (CL) in a semiconductor factory in Malaysia, an industrially developing country (IDC), to improve workers' occupational health and safety (OHS). Low-cost and simple (LCS) ergonomics methods were used (suitable for IDCs), e.g., subjective assessment, direct observation, use of archival data and assessment of noise. It was found that workers were facing noise irritation, neck and back pains and headache in the various processes in the CL. LCS ergonomic interventions to rectify the problems included installing noise insulating covers, providing earplugs, installing elevated platforms, slanting visual display terminals and installing extra exhaust fans. The interventions cost less than 3 000 USD but they significantly improved workers' OHS, which directly correlated with an improvement in working conditions and job satisfaction. The findings are useful in solving OHS problems in electronics industries in IDCs as they share similar manufacturing processes, problems and limitations.
  4. Ergonomic study on the manual component insertion lines for occupational health and safety improvements
    Sen RN, Yeow PH
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2003;9(1):57-74.
    PMID: 12636892
    The study aimed at reducing the occupational health and safety problems faced by the manual component insertion operators. Subjective and objective assessments, and direct observations were made in the printed circuit assembly factory. Simple and low-cost ergonomic interventions were implemented, that is, repairing chairs, reducing high workloads, assigning operators to a maximum of 2 workstations, confining machines that emitted bad smell and much noise, and providing finger work aids. The results of the interventions were reductions in operators' work discomforts, that is, chair discomfort (by 90%), high work stress, and discomfort due to profound change in their workstations. Their health hazards were also eliminated, that is, inhalation of toxic fumes, exposure to too much noise, and pain due to pressing sharp components.
  5. Safety management implementation drivers for construction projects: a structural equation modelling approach
    Abu Aisheh YI, Alaloul WS, Alhammadi SA, Tayeh BA
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2023 Dec;29(4):1358-1367.
    PMID: 36177998 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2131123
    The construction industry is one of the hazardous fields due to its exceptional environment. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the essential drivers needed for employing safety management in the Palestinian construction industry. The drivers for safety management were recognized from earlier literature, where the questionnaires were dispersed to professionals from construction projects. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique was then performed to contextually adjust the identified drivers. The results showed that safety management drivers could be categorized into three constructs: management, awareness and policy. In addition, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed to generate the safety management driver's model. The results indicated that management drivers were vital drivers for adopting safety management. The study's findings would act as a reference for construction stakeholders to decrease danger and enhance the construction project's success via implementing safety management drivers.
  6. The relation between upper limb muscle and brain activity in two precision levels of repetitive light tasks
    Zadry HR, Dawal SZ, Taha Z
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2011;17(4):373-84.
    PMID: 22152503
    A study was conducted to investigate the effects of repetitive light tasks of low and high precision on upper limb muscles and brain activities. Surface electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) were used to measure the muscle and brain activity of 10 subjects. The results show that the root-mean-square (RMS) and mean power frquency (MPF) of the muscle activity and the mean power of the EEG alpha bands were higher on the high-precision task than on the low-precision one. There was also a high and significant correlation between upper limb muscle and brain activity during the tasks. The longer the time and the more precise the task, the more the subjects become fatigued both physically and mentally. Thus, these results could be potentially useful in managing fatigue, especially fatique related to muscle and mental workload.
  7. The effect of job and environmental factors on job satisfaction in automotive industries
    Dawal SZ, Taha Z
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2006;12(3):267-80.
    PMID: 16984786
    A methodology was developed for diagnosing industrial work, which includes questionnaire, observation, measurements, data collection and statistical analysis. A survey was conducted to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and factors that affect work design in 2 automotives manufacturing companies in Malaysia. A basic work design model was proposed. The aim of this model was to determine the factors that influence employees' perception towards their work. A set of multiple-choice questionnaires was developed and data was collected by interviewing employees at a production plant. The survey focused on job and environmental factors. The results supported the proposed model and showed that job and environmental factors were significantly related to job satisfaction. They highlighted the significant influence of age, work experience and marital status on job satisfaction. Further, environmental factors, especially the surroundings, context dependence and the building's function, also had a significant impact on job satisfaction.
  8. Development of statistical models for predicting muscle and mental activities during repetitive precision tasks
    Zadry HR, Dawal SZ, Taha Z
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2016 Sep;22(3):374-83.
    PMID: 27053140 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1150094
    This study was conducted to develop muscle and mental activities on repetitive precision tasks. A laboratory experiment was used to address the objectives. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activities from eight upper limb muscles, while electroencephalography recorded mental activities from six channels. Fourteen university students participated in the study. The results show that muscle and mental activities increase for all tasks, indicating the occurrence of muscle and mental fatigue. A linear relationship between muscle activity, mental activity and time was found while subjects were performing the task. Thus, models were developed using those variables. The models were found valid after validation using other students' and workers' data. Findings from this study can contribute as a reference for future studies investigating muscle and mental activity and can be applied in industry as guidelines to manage muscle and mental fatigue, especially to manage job schedules and rotation.
  9. The relationship between psychosocial work factors, work stress and computer-related musculoskeletal discomforts among computer users in Malaysia
    Zakerian SA, Subramaniam ID
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2009;15(4):425-34.
    PMID: 20003776
    Increasing numbers of workers use computer for work. So, especially among office workers, there is a high risk of musculoskeletal discomforts. This study examined the associations among 3 factors, psychosocial work factors, work stress and musculoskeletal discomforts. These associations were examined via a questionnaire survey on 30 office workers (at a university in Malaysia), whose jobs required an extensive use of computers. The questionnaire was distributed and collected daily for 20 days. While the results indicated a significant relationship among psychosocial work factors, work stress and musculoskeletal discomfort, 3 psychosocial work factors were found to be more important than others in both work stress and musculoskeletal discomfort: job demands, negative social interaction and computer-related problems. To further develop study design, it is necessary to investigate industrial and other workers who have experienced musculoskeletal discomforts and work stress.
  10. Effects of using a document holder when typing on head excursion and neck muscle activity among computer users with and without neck pain
    Subramaniam A, Singh DKA
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2021 Mar;27(1):48-54.
    PMID: 30465482 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1543101
    Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of using a document holder while typing on head excursion and neck muscle activity among computer users with and without neck pain. Method. An experimental study including 52 individuals with (n = 26) and without (n = 26) neck pain was conducted. Head excursion and neck muscle activity were measured using an accelerometer and surface electromyography, respectively. Two-way analysis of variance was conducted to examine the effects of using a document holder between computer users with and without neck pain. Results. The results demonstrated a decrease in head excursion (p 
  11. The Effects of Safety-specific Transformational Leadership and Active Transactional Leadership on Mindful Safety Practices Adoption in the Chinese Petroleum Industry
    Shi H
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2021 Jun 15.
    PMID: 34126878 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2021.1943203
    AbstractPrevious studies have concentrated on the value of managerial leadership for the safety behavior conduction by the employees in the workplace. However, safety leadership styles concerning mindful safety practices have rarely been examined. The goal of this study is therefore to investigate the relationships between safety-specific leaderships (transformational and active transactional leadership) and the adoption of mindful safety practices among the first-line workers mediated by safety climate in the Chinese petroleum industry. Data were obtained from first-line workers in the two Chinese petroleum companies. PLS-SEM results have shown that transformational and active transactional leadership are positively related to safety climate, which in turn affect the mindful safety practices adoption in the Chinese petroleum industry. The results of the current study indicate that transformational and active transactional leadership in a safety-specific view offer a comprehensive leadership model for mindful safety practices conduction in the Chinese petroleum industry.
  12. Ergonomics improvements of the visual inspection process in a printed circuit assembly factory
    Yeow PH, Sen RN
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2004;10(4):369-85.
    PMID: 15598361
    An ergonomics improvement study was conducted on the visual inspection process of a printed circuit assembly (PCA) factory. The process was studied through subjective assessment and direct observation. Three problems were identified: operators' eye problems, insufficient time for inspection and ineffective visual inspection. These problems caused a huge yearly rejection cost of US 298,240 dollars, poor quality, customer dissatisfaction and poor occupational health and safety. Ergonomics interventions were made to rectify the problems: reduced usage of a magnifying glass, the use of less glaring inspection templates, inspection of only electrically non-tested components and introduction of a visual inspection sequence. The interventions produced savings in rejection cost, reduced operators' eye strain, headaches and watery eyes, lowered the defect percentage at customers' sites and increased the factory's productivity and customer satisfaction.
  13. Anthropometric database for the learning environment of high school and university students
    Dawal SZ, Zadry HR, Azmi SN, Rohim SR, Sartika SJ
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2012;18(4):461-72.
    PMID: 23294660
    This paper presents an anthropometric database of high school and university students from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Forty-one high school participants (21 males and 20 females), 13-17 years old, and 143 university students (74 males and 69 females) took part in the study. Twenty-one static body dimensions were measured. The greatest mean differences in the anthropometric data between male and female high school students were found in the sitting elbow height. In addition, a comparison of anthropometric data of male and female university students showed that data for males and females were significantly different, except for buttock-popliteal length, sitting elbow height and thigh clearance. The primary aim of this study was to develop an anthropometric database that could be used as a primary reference in designing products, devices and equipment for ergonomic learning environments.
  14. Occupational safety and health management in the construction industry: a review
    Jaafar MH, Arifin K, Aiyub K, Razman MR, Ishak MIS, Samsurijan MS
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2018 Dec;24(4):493-506.
    PMID: 28849991 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1366129
    The construction industry plays a significant role in contributing to the economy and development globally. During the process of construction, various hazards coupled with the unique nature of the industry contribute to high fatality rates. This review refers to previous published studies and related Malaysian legislation documents. Four main elements consisting of human, worksite, management and external elements which cause occupational accidents and illnesses were identified. External and management elements are the underlying causes contributing to occupational safety and health (OSH), while human and worksite elements are more apparent causes of occupational accidents and illnesses. An effective OSH management approach is required to contain all hazards at construction sites. An approach to OSH management constructed by elements of policy, process, personnel and incentive developed in previous work is explored. Changes to the sub-elements according to previous studies and the related Malaysian legislation are also covered in this review.
  15. Effects of patient transfer devices on the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review
    Abdul Halim NSS, Ripin ZM, Ridzwan MIZ
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2023 Jun;29(2):494-514.
    PMID: 35306979 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2055908
    Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of patient transfer assistive devices in reducing the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among nurses. Methods. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched to identify studies with a quantitative assessment of the efficacy of patient transfer assistive devices on the incidence and injury claims of WMSDs as compared to the manual lifting of patients. A health impact analysis of the pre-post intervention of assistive device implementation was performed. The percentage of the reduction of forces, incidence of WMSDs, number of missed workdays and injury compensation claims were calculated, pooled and presented as boxplots. Results. A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. The best post-intervention outcomes of assistive devices deployment in the healthcare setting included a reduction in WMSD incidence by 59.8%, missed workdays by 90.0% and workers' compensation claims by 95.0%. Additionally, hand force declined by 71% (p 
  16. Lower back pain and its association with whole-body vibration and manual materials handling among commercial drivers in Sabah
    Awang Lukman K, Jeffree MS, Rampal KG
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2019 Mar;25(1):8-16.
    PMID: 28978270 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1388571
    A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of lower back pain (LBP) and its association with whole-body vibration (WBV) and manual materials handling (MMH). We studied 110 commercial vehicle drivers using a self-administered questionnaire and the VI-400Pro human vibration monitor. Prevalence of LBP was 66.4%. The percentage of drivers who had frequent manual handling of heavy loads was 45.5% and those who handled heavy loads in awkward postures accounted for 86.4%. Daily vibration A(8) averaged on the z axis was 0.25 (0.06) m·s-2 and at vector sum was 0.29 (0.07) m·s-2. Daily vibration exposures on the z axis, frequent manual handling of heavy loads and awkward posture during MMH were significantly associated with LBP. Drivers who are exposed to WBV and frequently handle heavy loads manually and with awkward postures probably have more LBP than drivers who are exposed to only one of these risk factors.
  17. Physical ergonomics awareness in an offshore processing platform among Malaysian oil and gas workers
    M Noor MHH, Raja Ghazilla RA
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2020 Sep;26(3):521-537.
    PMID: 29792568 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1480341
    Introduction. The reliability of offshore oil and gas (O&G) facilities depends on the operation and maintenance activities, where human physical intervention is involved. Workers are often exposed to ergonomics hazards due to inefficient workplace design. Ergonomics awareness among workers is a crucial factor in mitigating such hazards. Objectives. This study intends to evaluate the state of physical ergonomics awareness among Malaysian O&G workers and to assess their perception toward the criticality of physical ergonomics issues within an offshore processing facility. Methods. Data were collected through online questionnaire distribution. The respondents were required to evaluate three sections of the questionnaire to reflect their state of physical ergonomics awareness: design criteria in an offshore workplace that are related to physical ergonomics; effects of physical ergonomics implementation in design; criticality of physical ergonomics issues. Results. The results showed a good level of physical ergonomics awareness among respondents without them being influenced by dissimilar experiences (engineering design and operation/maintenance) and the range of experience in an offshore workplace. Conclusion. This study provides an overview of Malaysian O&G workers' outlook toward the physical ergonomics issues in an offshore workplace. These data could be further analyzed in future as relevant aspects of designing an offshore facility.
  18. Development of prolonged standing strain index to quantify risk levels of standing jobs
    Halim I, Omar AR
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2012;18(1):85-96.
    PMID: 22429532
    Many occupations in industry such as metal stamping workers, electronics parts assembly operators, automotive industry welders, and lathe operators require working in a standing posture for a long time. Prolonged standing can contribute to discomfort and muscle fatigue particularly in the back and legs. This study developed the prolonged standing strain index (PSSI) to quantify the risk levels caused by standing jobs, and proposed recommendations to minimize the risk levels. Risk factors associated with standing jobs, such as working posture, muscles activity, standing duration, holding time, whole-body vibration, and indoor air quality, were the basis for developing the PSSI. All risk factors were assigned multipliers, and the PSSI was the product of those multipliers. Recommendations for improvement are based on the PSSI; however, extensive studies are required to validate their effectiveness. multipliers, and the PSSI was the product of those multipliers. Recommendations for improvement are based on the PSSI; however, extensive studies are required to validate their effectiveness.
  19. Occupational health and safety issues in the informal economic segment of Pakistan: a survey of construction sites
    Ahmed I, Shaukat MZ, Usman A, Nawaz MM, Nazir MS
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2018 Jun;24(2):240-250.
    PMID: 28795938 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1366145
    This research covers the current status of occupational health and safety (OHS)-related practices in the informal construction segment of Pakistan. Data were collected, through interviews, from 316 construction sites employing 3577 workers. The results of the study reveal that both employers and workers lack knowledge of OHS laws/standards and no practices of this nature are enacted at these construction sites. Alarmingly, work-related accidents, whenever they happen, are not given due attention and there is no formal injury-report system. The informal construction industry employs a huge portion of the informal workforce, and lack of OHS happens at tremendous human cost. These research findings may thus play their role in strengthening the case for reforms in the sector. This study, if properly utilized, may also enable employers of the sector by increasing their knowledge about OHS practices and, as a result, trying to offer safer environments for their workers.
  20. Effects of safety leadership and safety management practices on safety participation through a casual-chain mediators approach in the Chinese construction industry
    Shi H, Nadeem MA
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2023 Dec;29(4):1383-1394.
    PMID: 36178706 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2131274
    Objectives. This article aims to prompt first-line workers to go beyond regular job roles and engage in more discretionary safety behavior-safety participation in the Chinese construction industry. The construction industry is a high-risk industry, and first-line workers are more likely to be exposed to workplace hazards. Once accidents happen, the negative consequences would come out. Therefore, employee voluntary safety behavior is focused on in this research. Methods. The present research framework examines the roles of safety leadership and safety management practices from the group and organizational perspectives in predicting the voluntary safety behavior (safety participation) of first-line workers in the Chinese construction industry through casual-chain mediators (safety climate and job satisfaction). In this study, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is adopted for data analysis and hypotheses testing. Results. After data analysis, the results show that safety leadership and safety management practices are significantly and positively associated with safety participation of first-line workers through safety climate and job satisfaction. Moreover, safety management practices have a more statistical effect on safety climate compared to safety leadership. Conclusions. These results provide some practical implications for facilitating the workers to conduct safety participation inthe construction industry.
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