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.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most common disorders in any work sector and industry. Ergonomic risk assessment can reduce the risk of WMSDs. Motion capture that can provide accurate and real-time quantitative data has been widely used as a tool for ergonomic risk assessment. However, most ergonomic risk assessments that use motion capture still depend on the traditional ergonomic risk assessment method, focusing on qualitative data. Therefore, this article aims to provide a view on the ergonomic risk assessment and apply current motion capture technology to understand classical mechanics of physics that include velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum in ergonomic risk assessment. This review suggests that using motion capture technologies with kinetic and kinematic variables, such as velocity, acceleration, and force, can help avoid inconsistency and develop more reliable results in ergonomic risk assessment. Most studies related to the physical measurement conducted with motion capture prefer to use non-optical motion capture because it is a low-cost system and simple experimental setup. However, the present review reveals that optical motion capture can provide more accurate data.
Lower back pain is a musculoskeletal disorder that is commonly reported among warehouse workers due to the nature of the work environment and manual handling activities. The objective of this study was to assess the ergonomic risks among warehouse workers carrying out high shelf (HS) and low shelf (LS) binning processes. A questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, while a marker-based motion capture (MoCap) system worksheet was used to record the participants’ motion and determine the action risk level. A total of 33% of the participants reported lower back pain in the past seven days, based on the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) results. Analysis of the body velocities showed that the HS binning process had four major velocity peaks, defined as the initial, lowering, lifting, and final phases. In comparison, the LS binning process had two major peaks defined, the crouching and rising phases. There were significant differences between the mean velocities of the workers for the HS binning process, indicating that the workers have different movement patterns with varying velocities.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychological stress remain major occupational health challenges among teaching professionals in adult education, yet their interconnected causes are often underexplored. This narrative review aims to identify multifactorial risk factors that contribute to these conditions and to propose a comprehensive framework that enhances understanding of teaching professionals’ well-being. A systematic synthesis of recent epidemiological and occupational health studies was conducted to analyse both immediate and underlying determinants across human, workplace, organisational, and socioeconomic dimensions. The findings reveal that more than two-thirds of teaching professionals experience WMSDs, particularly in the neck and lower back, while psychological stress affects over seventy percent globally. The combined effects of poor ergonomics, prolonged static postures, excessive workload, and limited organisational support contribute significantly to both physical and psychological strain. Broader contextual influences such as job insecurity, insufficient institutional resources, and societal undervaluation further intensify these risks. The review identifies a reciprocal relationship between physical discomfort and psychological distress, where each condition amplifies the other through behavioural and physiological mechanisms. The proposed integrative framework establishes a foundation for targeted interventions and evidence-based policy, promoting a shift toward holistic, system-oriented approaches to occupational health for teaching professionals in professional education settings.
23 June 2017 in Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Back injury is a common musculoskeletal injury reported among firefighters (FFs) due to their nature of work and personal protective equipment (PPE). The nature of the work associated with heavy lifting tasks increases FFs’ risk of back injury. This study aimed to assess the biomechanics movement of FFs on personal protective equipment during a lifting task. A set of questionnaires was used to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain experienced by FFs. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion capture was used in this study to record the body angle deviation and angular acceleration of FFs’ thorax extension. The descriptive analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the FFs’ age and body mass index with the FFs’ thorax movement during the lifting task with PPE and without PPE. Sixty-three percent of FFs reported lower back pain during work, based on the musculoskeletal pain questionnaire. The biomechanics analysis of thorax angle deviation and angular acceleration has shown that using FFs PPE significantly causes restricted movement and limited mobility for the FFs. As regards human factors, the FFs’ age influences the angle deviation while wearing PPE and FFs’ BMI influences the angular acceleration without wearing PPE during the lifting activity.