Evaluación de factores ergonómicos de los trabajadores de la empresa Artesa Cía Ltda., expuestos a movimientos repetitivos, posiciones forzadas y manipulación de cargas, y propuestas de plan de control

Abstract

This investigation is focused in a group of employees working in the “Decoration Section” of Artesa Cía. Ltda., a Company based in Cuenca - Ecuador, which main economic activity is manufacturing and commercialization of utilitarian ceramic products with hand painted decoration. The group of interest, is in fact the one in charge of painting these well recognized products.

The main objective of the investigation was to determine the level of exposure to ergonomic risks the workers have to comply with their specific tasks.

This study includes the theoretical and legal framework on ergonomic risks, as well as the detailed description of the methodology, the characterization of the group analyzed, and also the description of the different work-sites.

In the practical area, a recognition of the work locations was done, the triple matrix criterion was applied to determine which locations to evaluate and five were obtained. The methodologies of evaluation: Check list OCRA, REBA and the NIOSH equation were posteriorly applied to these.

A questionnaire was also used with all workers of the section, in order to determine relevant information related to effects of exposure to those risks.

Lastly, the presence of a high risk level for forced postures in the five work locations was determined. In regards to repetivie movements, a moderate risk was seen for the signaling and tracing locations, and a high risk was obtained for decorating, varnishing and varnishing asistant. There was not a significant risk related to the manual manipulation of loads.

Based on results of the evaluation, a proposal for ergonomic risk management was issued to minimize the muscle-skeletal disorders identified in the study.