DESIGNING ERGONOMICS SUPPORTING TOOL FOR HOSE-VALVE JOINING ACTIVITY IN PT. Y.

Abstract

Ergonomics is an important thing to be the consideration for manual material handling work design. Since the activity of manual material handling is occurred in many manufacturing plants, the ergonomics consideration is sometimes being neglected. Meanwhile ergonomics consideration may define the health and safety of the workers in doing the manual material handling. In PT. Y., a manual material handling activity is considered as a non-ergonomics activity and may cause CTDs: low back pain. The manual material handling is the activity of hose-valve joining in the reception of raw material using isotank truck. The activity is in the form of hose hand lifting and connecting to the valve, whilst the activity is done in awkward body posture. This research is done to deeply observe and analyze the ergonomics of the activity. Anthropometry reference and REBA analysis is used to assess the condition of the activity. Anthropometry analysis shows that the body dimension while doing the activity is not standard, as well as REBA analysis results 10 REBA score which means the risk is dangerous and the action plan to change needs to be implemented soon. Since the current condition of the valve cannot be changed, the improvement proposed is to design a supporting tool to assist the operator and ensure the ergonomics of the activity. The proposed improvement of product design idea is able to reduce the risk by securing the anthropometry body dimension standard and resulting 2 REBA score which means low risk level.