Ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal disorders risk factors in office staff using ROSA method and its relation with efficiency

Abstract

Background and Aim: Lack of attention to the principles of ergonomics and neglecting it in workplaces, will cause injuries and great expenses for employees, employers and reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of people. The aim of the present study was to determine the musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in the office staff with the ROSA method and its relation with efficiency. Methods: This study was an analytic study. The office staff of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were examined in 2015. The used tools were the efficiency and Nordic questionnaires. The staff posture was investigated with the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) method. The SPSS 20 statistical software and the Pearson correlation coefficient statistical test were used for analyzing data. Results: In this study, the average age of the 56 studied employees was 40.75±6.62 years and the work experience average of 16.67±6.12 years. It is said that 41.1 of staff had high efficiency and 42.9 and 16.1 of the staff had mediocre and low efficiency respectively. The average score of staff efficiency was obtained 82.7±23.5 which was in mediocre level. The most frequency percent in ROSA method was score of 5 (42.9). The ROSA score had an indirect relationship and significant correlation with efficiency (R=0.752, P<0.001). Conclusion: The efficiency of the office staff was medium and according to the average score of ROSA, in terms of ergonomic factor risks, the staff were in a warning stage. Therefore, in order to apply the principles of ergonomics in workplaces, job and equipment will have a significant role in increasing the efficiency of any organization and industrial organizations.