Mixed Methods Approach to Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Malaysian Railway Maintenance Operations
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Keywords
Physical ergonomics, Railway maintenance, 3D-CAD, virtual reality, Mixed methods
Abstract
The safety and well-being of human personnel play an increasingly important role in determining whether prescribed objectives and overall performance goals are met in work environments. Various Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA) methodologies are thus constantly applied to examine whether risks and hazards that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are present in these environments. This is especially true in high-risk industries, such as railway maintenance, where workers are subjected to repetitive tasks that are often dynamic and complex in nature. This study, therefore, proposes a conceptual framework to assess ergonomic risk factors (ERFs) in such environments, and suggests mechanisms for intervention. To achieve this, a Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to collect pain and discomfort data from 27 Malaysian railway maintenance workers (n=27). This was supported by semi-structured interviews, which provided context for the numerical results and incorporated workers’ perceptions of their routine tasks into the overall study design. Findings from the collected data showed that workers were often exposed to ERFs, including awkward and static postures over long periods of time. Pain and discomfort were also reported in upper body regions, including the shoulders, neck, and wrists. These results exposed the need for the incorporation of modern technological tools to support the assessment process. The proposed framework, therefore, sets a stage for the integration of Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Design (3D-CAD) and Virtual Reality (VR) as simulation and visualization components of ERA.
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Hellstrome Young Akuma, Universiti Selangor
Hellstrome Young Akuma is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Engineering and Life Sciences, Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), Malaysia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Shenyang Aerospace University, Liaoning, China, in 2016. In 2018, he pursued a Master’s degree in Engineering at UNISEL, where his research focused on the mathematical modelling and control systems of Ground Effect Vehicles. Currently, his doctoral research centres on optimizing ergonomic solutions for industrial applications by integrating advanced design tools and emerging technologies.
Nazlin Hanie Abdullah, Universiti Selangor
Nazlin Hanie Abdullah received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Aided Design and Manufacture from Universiti of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She pursued her Master’s Degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia. Her Doctor of Philosophy is gained in PhD in Engineering Design, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her current field placement is with Universiti Selangor in Mechanical Engineering Division, Faculty of Engineering & Life Sciences, Universiti Selangor, Malaysia for twenty two years. Her research area is ergonomics, human factor, and product design as well.
