The integrated ergonomic risk assessment in the assembly line: an application in the energy sector

Failure to evaluate the factors that may cause ergonomic risks during working and not take measures according to these causes an increase in musculoskeletal system disorders. This situation leads to a decrease in work efficiency, increase in work accidents, thus employee dissatisfaction, and social and economic problems due to the increase in occupational diseases related to work. In order to define and analyze ergonomic risks and to perform improvement studies, businesses have to record their activities and make a risk assessment. In this study, which was carried out in order to apply an integrated ergonomic risk assessment approach and examine the importance of this issue, an ergonomic risk assessment study was conducted on the assembly line of a factory operating in the energy sector. Ergonomic risk assessment was performed using Key Indicator Methods developed by the German Federal Institute of Occupational Health and Safety. The aim of this study is to determine the ergonomic risk levels that female and male employees are exposed to in 18 workstations, to develop solutions for these risks, and thus to reduce the ergonomic risks that employees are exposed to.