Malaysian Journal of Ergonomics (MJEr)
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The Malaysian Journal of Ergonomics (MJEr) is a peer-reviewed journal published biannually. It includes article reviews, research papers, short communications and selected conference papers in a special issue on the user-centered design, human factors, ergonomics, occupational safety and health and mental and emotion health. Topics covers are (but not limited to): Posture, Anthropometry, Biomechanics, Material Handling, Physical & Cognitive Ergonomics, Human Computer Interaction, Office Ergonomics, Methods in Ergonomics, Ergonomics Design, Ergonomics Program Management, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Automotive, Industrial Ergonomics, Low-Cost Ergonomics Improvement, Driving Ergonomics, Ergonomics in SMI, Agriculture, Construction, Manufacturing, Safety, Health etc.
MJEr currently indexed by Malaysian Citation Centre, Ministry of Higher Education, MALAYSIA
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PublicationErgonomics work system and occupational safety and health performance in the manufacturing sector( 2020)In the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, an ergonomic work system, occupational safety and health performance are an important element that needs to be integrated into an organisation's management strategy. These two elements are capable of increasing the productivity of the organisation, but also to provide benefits, especially in the manufacturing sector as a guideline in implementing occupational sickness and occupational stress measures. Isolated performance sparked various problems, especially from the aspect of accidents, sickness, absences and occupational stress due to lack of applications and implementation of three key elements in the organization management system. Therefore, this study is aimed to find the relationship between ergonomic work systems and occupational safety and health performance. Respondents of the study comprised 252 production operators, the centre and the support staff in five organisations in the manufacturing sector around Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. The survey method employed in this study is to administer the questionnaire form to the manufacturing company required. The measurement of these elements used questionnaires adapted from previous studies focusing on occupational sickness, occupational stress and demographic data. The results showed that the task factor and ergonomics of the machines and equipment factor had an influence on occupational sickness. Further, the task factor also affects significant occupational stress. Established along the findings obtained, this subject area is able to provide information and knowledge to employees from engaging in occupational accidents and occupational health matters. In summation, this field would also cause an impingement on the manufacturing sector in Malaysia as a guideline in building the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enforce and apply ergonomic aspects at the workplace.
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PublicationErgonomic intervention study among woodball players( 2020)This paper proposed a feasibility study on the ergonomics intervention among the Woodball athletes. The objectives of this study are to identify the ergonomics risk factors that may cause harm to Woodball athlete by using the Initial Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA) and the Advanced ERA method. The ergonomic assessment of an athlete was focussed on the three different woodball exercises, namely the tee-off comprising of short tee-off, medium tee-off and long tee-off. The advanced ergonomic risk assessments were performed on the upper body part of an athlete such as the neck, shoulder, upper arm, hand or wrist and upper back by using the RULA employee assessment worksheet. Based on the findings and assessment done, the proper body posture is then proposed through the observation from the results of the initial and advanced ERA. A simulation using the Human Digital Modelling (HDM) was also performed to better analyse the ergonomic aspect of the selective body postures. The results of the simulation were then compared to the results of the RULA assessment. The improvised results from the RULA analysis were found to be able to reduce the ergonomics risk of the current and improvised posture. The improvised posture will be useful for future studies in order to obtain a more ideal body posture for the Woodball players.
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PublicationEffect between cadence and lower extremity muscle activity during uphill cycling to cyclist performance( 2020)Cycling is an exercise performing in a vertically reciprocating movement using bicycle which usually serves as sport equipment for training and as transport. Great quantity of lower extremity muscle contraction involved in uphill cycling. In the past few decades, research related to cycling includes study of lower limb muscle activity by various situation applied. However, few research studies on the lower limb muscle activation level with varying cadence during uphill cycling. Thus, this task proposes to investigate the effect of pedalling cadence and tilting angle of cycling on lower extremity muscle activity, and to compare the muscle activation level between genders. Three pedalling cadences (70rpm, 80rpm and 90rpm) and two tilting angles of cycling inclination (10° and 30°) were set. Electromyography (EMG) measurements of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis in quadriceps were done and collected from 5 males and 5 females during cycling. ANOVA analysis was performed, and results indicated that pedaling cadence had significant influence on the lower extremity muscle activity (p < 0.05). Increasing pedaling cadence caused a significant increase in the muscle activation of the vastus lateralis. For gender effect, females tend to have a higher muscle activation level and significantly greater vastus lateralis muscle activity than males during cycling. On the other hand, no significant differences in peak muscle activity at both tilting angles of cycling and no significant interaction effect in all group comparison.
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PublicationThe effect of a n overweight backpack towards comfortability and L5s1 among primary school student( 2021)The issue of overweight pupils’ school bag has been a subject of vast of discussion by the parents which may associate to back pain. This paper presents the effect of the weight of the backpack towards the lumbosacral joint (L5/S1) and conformability among primary student. A total of 10 respondents from the primary school students were involved in this study. Questionnaires of psychophysical experience with eight areas of body surveys were distributed as to obtain the comfortable feedback. The participants were required to perform three activities; standing without load; standing and climbing with load. The pupils are required to carry a backpack in symmetrical manner. These three activities will be recorded by using a digital camera. Due to safety measure during COVID-19 pandemic, the ImageJ Software was used to measure the joint angles and gait parameters. Based on the data measured by the software, a static and dynamic analysis were applied to calculate the torque and force for the trunk muscle, compressive and a shear force acting on the lumbosacral joint. Based on the result, It was found the student to carry 17% of their body weight, which is beyond of the 10-15% recommendation threshold. The survey shows, 40% of the students feel very uncomfortable especially at their low back, shoulder, head, and neck area due to heavy backpack. It shows the compression force on L4L5 during climbing slightly exceed the recommendation limit by NIOSH, while the others within the acceptable level. The related stakeholder should provide solutions, which conducive in order to prevent and control the occurrence of low back pain among primary student.
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PublicationStudy on ergonomics of working posture and workstation design in XYZ fact ory( 2021)Manufacturing sector is one of the highest risk industries contributing to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). These problems have attracted much attention in recent years and is becoming more and more wide-spread. The source of concern is in most industrialized countries. The phenomenon of WMSDs must be treated very seriously as it can have a considerable social-economic impact. The study was conducted at XYZ Sdn Bhd in Malaysia where the general manufacturing activities involve cleaning, loading and unloading, turning process, grooving process, measuring process, collecting data and packing activities. Different employees are exposed to risk factors depending on their job and task. The objectives of this research are to identify the critical activities that affect to the musculoskeletal disorder among XYZ employees by observation and evaluation of the critical activities, to perform the analysis work posture and to propose and improve posture and workplace design at XYZ Sdn Bhd. The data for this study were collected via observation and discomfort survey to the XYZ employees. Other informal data such as experience-posture with photos were taken during their task. Further analysis based on Rapid Upper Limb Analysis (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) were implemented by entering the scores according to the initial degree of body position. Lastly, RULA and REBA tables on the form were then used to compile the risk factor variables, generating a single score that represents the optimum solution of the correct working posture for XYZ employee. In addition, the finding of the study will provide as useful information and reference to the potential researchers, especially in the manufacturing industry. Nevertheless, employer must take serious action to implementing effective improvements in ergonomics in the workplace in future such by expanding education and training programs to assist employees and employers in understanding and utilizing the range possible workplace designed to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This may indirectly help to optimize human efficiency, effectiveness, health, safety, and well-being within the context of system performance.