Ergonomics Work System and Occupational Safety and Health Performance in the Manufacturing Sector

Abstract

In the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, an ergonomic work system, occupational safety and health performance are an important element that needs to be integrated into an organisation's management strategy. These two elements are capable of increasing the productivity of the organisation, but also to provide benefits, especially in the manufacturing sector as a guideline in implementing occupational sickness and occupational stress measures. Isolated performance sparked various problems, especially from the aspect of accidents, sickness, absences and occupational stress due to lack of applications and implementation of three key elements in the organization management system. Therefore, this study is aimed to find the relationship between ergonomic work systems and occupational safety and health performance. Respondents of the study comprised 252 production operators, the centre and the support staff in five organisations in the manufacturing sector around Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. The survey method employed in this study is to administer the questionnaire form to the manufacturing company required. The measurement of these elements used questionnaires adapted from previous studies focusing on occupational sickness, occupational stress and demographic data. The results showed that the task factor and ergonomics of the machines and equipment factor had an influence on occupational sickness. Further, the task factor also affects significant occupational stress. Established along the findings obtained, this subject area is able to provide information and knowledge to employees from engaging in occupational accidents and occupational health matters. In summation, this field would also cause an impingement on the manufacturing sector in Malaysia as a guideline in building the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enforce and apply ergonomic aspects at the workplace.