Abstract

This study aimed to assess the ergonomic risks associated with manual material handling (MMH) tasks in rice stores located in the 4th District of Leyte, Philippines specifically in Merida, Isabel, and Palompon. The objective was to identify work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and evaluate risk-prone tasks involving lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, throwing, and lowering heavy rice sacks. A total of 20 MMH workers from 18 rice stores were purposively selected to participate. Data were collected using the Modified Nordic Questionnaire (MNQ), NIOSH MMH Checklist, Hazard Evaluation Checklist, and the Ovako Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS). MNQ results indicated high prevalence of pain in the shoulders (95%, 80%), upper back (95%, 100%), lower back (80%, 95%), and hips (75%, 100%) in the past 12 months and 7 days, respectively. The NIOSH checklist showed 80.33% of the responses fell within the risk range (60%-100%), while 57.88% of responses to the Hazard Evaluation Checklist indicated conditions that pose a risk of developing low back pain. OWAS analysis revealed that lifting tasks were the most hazardous, falling under Category 4. The findings underscore the need for engineering and administrative interventions and provision of personal protective equipment to reduce musculoskeletal risks and improve the working conditions of rice store laborers.

Keywords: Ergonomic risks; MNQ; NIOSH MMH; OWAS; Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Citation

Darry Mhei L Morales., et al. “Ergonomic Risk Assessment in Manual Material Handling Task Among Rice Stores in 4th District of Leyte". Clareus Scientific Science and Engineering 2.7 (2025): 53-58.

Copyright

© 2025 Darry Mhei L Morales., et al. Licensee Clareus Scientific Publications. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.