How Ergonomic Evaluations Influence the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Industrial Context? A Brief Literature Review

Ergonomic risk factors are present in many industrial environments. They include posture, repetitive tasks, vibration, physical workloads, among others. Long-term exposure to these factors may lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Risk analysis allows the identification and elimination/reduction of the causes. This research reviews briefly the connection between ergonomic evaluations and the chance of developing musculoskeletal injuries in the industrial environment. Namely, it aims to understand the impact of risk analysis and ergonomic interventions on musculoskeletal disorders and workers’ well-being. To pursue the brief literature review, the authors defined the inclusion criteria and extracted the data. It led to 53 studies collected from Taylor and Francis, Elsevier, and Springer. Of these, five articles published after 2015 were considered relevant for the purpose. A summary table was created to resume the objective and the main findings of each study. Results evidenced a positive correlation between ergonomic interventions and musculoskeletal injuries. Overall, the review points out that musculoskeletal disorders are less frequent when there is an ergonomic risk analysis that leads to implementing measures and solutions.