Examining Physical Workload and Manual Material Handling: A NIOSH Lifting Equation Analysis for Packing Workers at PT X

Abstract

Data derived from the Nordic Body Map (NBM) questionnaire results at PT X in March 2023 revealed that approximately 55.5% of packing workers reported experiencing extreme pain in their back and waist, attributed to manual handling tasks. This study aims to evaluate the safety of manual handling activities associated with cardboard packaging for finished products. Employing a quantitative analytic research approach with an observational method, the study includes a population and sample of 9 packing workers at PT X. Physical workload is assessed using the Cardiovascular Load method, and an ergonomic risk evaluation is conducted using the Composite Lifting Index (CLI) calculation method, considering the multitasking nature of packing work. Findings from the physical workload measurements highlight that one worker has a %CVL above 30%, placing the workload of all packing workers in the "needs improvement" classification. Additionally, CLI calculations for four units surpass the criteria, with values ≥ 3, signifying that all packing activities across units at PT X are deemed high-risk. Recommendations for improvement include adjusting the distance between the load and the body, refining lifting techniques, addressing work duration, adopting two-person lifting for heavy loads, and displaying posters with tips for manual weight lifting. Following the implementation of these proposed improvements, the results indicate that packing work at PT X is now considered safe to perform.

Keywords

• Repair
• Composite lifting index
• workload