Effect of work posture on operator complaints: Choice between sitting and standing work

Universitas Sumatera Utara, Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Medan 20155, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: anizar_usu@usu.ac.id

Abstract

Workers perform manual handling activities with sitting and standing work postures. In sitting work posture, this activity is performed using a 15-cm-long spade, so the workers must bend both their bodies and feet, meanwhile in standing work posture, workers use stainless steel squeegee. Workers on both postures complain of pain but on different parts of the body. Limited work facilities cause this handling activity uses body muscle repetitively. The aim of this study is to obtain an ergonomic work facility so that workers can use standing work posture with minimal pain complaints. The methods used are arterial pulse measurement, pain complaints measurement, anthropometry measurement, and designing handling device using QFD method. The subjects in this study are 6 male workers in a steel company producing threaded steel. The handling device stands 77.9 cm tall with a 15° slope so that silicomanganese can move down by taking advantage of the vibration. Workers only direct silicomanganese into the sack in standing work posture, so that performance can increase.