CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND

ITS BACKGROUND
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CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

In this chapter, the researchers will show the introduction, the clients and its background,
determine the problem statements and objectives.

1.1. Introduction

Ergonomics, also known as Human Factors Engineering is the study of work. More specifically it
is the science of designing a job, or product that fits the worker, rather than being physically
forced to do the job with more risks. Adapting tasks, work stations, tools, and equipment to fit
the worker can help reduce physical stress on a worker’s body and eliminate many potentially
serious, disabling work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Anthropometry is a part of
Ergonomics and it is the study of human body measurements. Used in developing design
standards and body requirements for manufactured products in ensuring a suitable and fit
product for the intended audience. Anthropometry is a very important branch of Ergonomics.
According to Stephen Pheasant (1996), it concerns with matching the physical form and
dimensions of the product or workspace to those of its user; and likewise with matching the
physical demands of the working task to the capacities of the workforce.

One of the primary issues of ergonomics that is of concern is the matter of being in the state of
weariness, which is also called fatigue. Fatigue is a decline in mental and/or physical
performance that results from prolonged exertion, sleep loss and/or disruption of the internal
clock. Fatigue may also be attributed to a state where a person lacks energy or motivation in
doing certain tasks. This is a symptom that most people are not aware of. This is accompanied
by different reactions of both physical and mental aspects: (1) body pain and strain in some
parts of the body (2) feeling of tiredness and irritability. It may lead a person to lessen his
capacity to do certain jobs while simultaneously diminishing the effectiveness and efficiency of
accomplishment.

Different organizations are gradually becoming more concerned in the issue of general fatigue
among people because it cannot be solved by either anyone or any technology that exists
today. The only thing that some organizations may do is to reduce the level of fatigue being

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experience by the people. Over this issue, many are concerned about the effects of fatigue and
some are now taking a look on how ergonomics may resolve this pressing issue.

Biologically, fatigue affects the workers in all aspects of their work and much more in terms of
their work productivity. Productivity is one of the most important aspects that a worker must a
accomplish and maintain. It is a state of making something in terms of different resources as
efficiently as possible. Higher productivity means accomplishing more in terms of volume and
quantity from the same amount of the input that is taken. Continuous improvement in production
level can transform physical and human resources to create more desirable outputs.

Minimizing the cause of fatigue encountered by employees will likely avoid human error, thus,
they become more productive. The goal of ergonomics in this issue is to minimize the injuries
caused by fatigue like musculo-skeletal pains, eye strain, back pain, muscle strain, poor
performance due to lack of sleep, headache, and other physical stress. In addition, designing
the workplace by conforming to strict standards must always be taken into consideration in the
study of Ergonomics.

1.2 Background of the Study

For a profession that desires safety of the workers themselves and the quality of the work,
studies indicate that the risk of making mistakes at work increases significantly if workers feel
exhaustion while working. Fatigue is known for having an influence in the work performance,
and since fatigue cannot be measured theoretically, it is a daunting task to separate the
consequences of long operating hours or lack of sleep to associate any changes in accident or
injury percentage rates. In this study, researchers are interested in reducing the effects of
fatigue in workers which is concerned with their level of productivity, ability to handle stress and
make decisions. Over time, fatigue may affect physical health leading to back pain, leg cramps,
and foot soreness. Since fatigue is one of the most common issues that workers experience, it
gives the researchers the motivation to do the study.

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Fatigue in workers contribute to the job errors in which the value affects the associates,
organization’s performance, and safety. In this study, the researchers used and applied
knowledge in Ergonomics to be able to help the workers

1.3 Client Background

The client or the subject of the project study that we have chosen is sales attendants,
particularly concerning about how they really perform their work. Basically, the job of a sales
attendant primarily serves as a customer-facing staff who assist customers with their own
products and services. They answer and inform customers about the store policies. They share
knowledge with customers to help them find products that meet what they want or needs, and
they also often do some the duties of cashier and shelf-stockers during their shifts in work. The
duties and responsibilities of a sales clerk often include greeting customers to welcome them to
the store, answering any questions they have about the store or what it sells, suggesting options
that fit their needs, providing instruction on using products and checking customers out when
they are finished shopping. Other duties that are a part of a sales clerk's job description may
include assisting customers with exchanges and returns, opening and closing the cash register
for the day, setting up merchandise for display, providing training for new sales clerks and
offering customers add-on products and services. In addition, part of a sales attendant’s job is to
make sure that they possess quite a physical endurance since most of their work requires
standing for long durations of time.

1.4 Statement of the Problem

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study will be helpful for the following benefactors:

Employees of companies that employ sales attendants

This study will help the employees be aware if their current method situation is ergonomic or
not. This will also help them lessen the pain and aches experienced during work and in the long

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run, prevent costly medical needs, It would also inform them about the importance of
ergonomics in the workplace and how it would benefit them to do their work easier and
comfortably.

Employers of companies that hire sales attendants

This study can be useful for the company and employers if they wish to consider the issue about
costumer’s satisfaction. Considering this kind of problem may likely give an enormous impact
not just to the customers themselves, but also to the reputation of the company. Improving
minimal factors such as ergonomics on a large-scale company can have a significant impact on
the productivity of the company as well as increase in their profit and apply process
improvement.

1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The focus of this research study are the employees who were hired to work as a sales attendant
to a department store. This study is focused primarily on the fatigue experienced by these
employees to reduce the rate of refusals received by the company. The data that will be used in
this research is provided by every individual by completing the survey form given by the
researchers. The researchers will conduct interviews and surveys at 15th Avenue, Quezon City.

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CHAPTER 2. THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter provides the related literatures, studies and articles that are linked to the
study that has been conducted. This chapter also shows the idea behind the designs
that are used in the study along with their statements.

2.1 Review and Literature

2.1.1 Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders have been a culprit of various degrees of problems in many

industries throughout the years, ranging from increased absenteeism to costlier aspects on
medical and safety and health expenses. Though there have been ways, solutions, in
remedying the problem at hand, not all of these methods were proven effective, and, if proven
effective, such techniques were still inefficient. Thus, work-related musculoskeletal disorders
continue to prevail, whether it be of a blue-collar job nature or one where workers are
embedded within the limits of an office environment.

2.1.1.1 Definition

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, basing on the compiled studies noted by Alricsson

(2012) are injuries throughout or at a specific part of the human body where possible tissue
damage may have taken place due to various factors within a work environment that may have
directly or indirectly caused it by means of functional disturbances of the musculoskeletal
system

2.1.1.2 Existing Treatment

As discussed by Jull et al. (2005), there exists a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders that
goes by the manual or manipulative therapy approaches, which have transformed into
musculoskeletal physiotherapy in recent years accompanied by advances in the medical

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sciences and practices, wherein those affected by injuries from MSDs are placed under
movement and exercise therapy with the incorporation of facilitated educational recovery.

Covering the topic of major body regions and various degrees of injuries resulting from
musculoskeletal disorders, Daniels and Hoffman (2011) would still take note of red flags though,
which are serious conditions that, without immediate assistance from professional help to
provide

effective treatment plans, may put individuals under life-threatening circumstances. In

agreement to the necessity of treatment, Sanders (2003) indicates the importance and
significant benefits of having a comprehensive standpoint and understanding of the strong
medical and ergonomic implications that the perspective on managing musculoskeletal
disorders must, in fact, follow with logical precision and well-organized progression.

2.1.1.3 Significance of the Lower Body

The lumbosacral spine, as stated by Daniels (2015), which is usually made up of five vertebrae,
is one of the areas of the lower back that tend to be heavily affected and displaced by
musculoskeletal disorders imposed on the flexion and extension capacities, severely decreasing
the allowance for multidirectional movement.

Atkinson (2009) tells of an effect resulting from chronic back pain caused by musculoskeletal
disorders among office workers that entails individualistic dependency on and addiction to
antidepressants and their supposed efficacy in terms of reducing pain and suffering in general.

2.1.1.4 Relevance

Alricsson (2012) state that musculoskeletal disorders, specifically those concerned with
conditions with back, neck, and shoulder pains, have only grown to be more significant as a
problem in the world of work-related endeavors, turning into a greater cause of reduced
functionality and furthering the potential of detrimental factors in the quality of living, as the
environment as a whole goes through various forms of changes and modifications.

Even more so concerning, Hertling and Kessler (2006) mention that, amidst shortterm or long-
term injuries caused by MSDs, all tissue within the human body, with the exception of teeth,
though having the capacity and capability of repair and wound management in the form of

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dense connective tissue, commonly referred to as scarring, appropriate regeneration is out of

the picture for most of the part.

2.1.1.5 Leg and Foot Swelling

Metabolic wastes tend to accumulate in the muscles during isometric work because of
minimized blood flow. Body sway affects the pressure distribution on the foot, resulting in
occlusion of blood flow from the foot. If the legs don't move, the blood from the heart tends to go
down to the legs and remains there--a phenomenon called venous pooling. This creates more
work for the heart; the heart must increase its beat rate to provide the same amount of blood as
prior to venous pooling. Venous pooling causes leg swelling, edema, and varicose veins. The
mean venous pressure in the ankle in one study for sitting was 56 mm and for standing, 87 mm.
In another study, the values were 48 mm and 80 mm, respectively (Konz & Johnson, 2000).
Walking drops the ankle venous pressure to 21 mm and 23 mm, respectively, in about only 10
steps, after which time the drop in pressure is stabilized (Knoz & Johnson, 2000). Walking two
to four minutes for every 15 minutes of standing work is more comfortable than standing without
walking (Knoz & Johnson, 2000).

2.1.1.6 Diagnosis Among Other Body Parts

Hadler (2004) introduces the understanding of interfaces, supported by a display of relevant

science in approaching uncertainties, as an alternative approach to the handling of the
diagnosis and management of regional musculoskeletal disorders when alternatives are
available. The National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) described
the current and

expected content of work and how musculoskeletal disorders, most especially those of the
upper extremities of the human body, affect these and the varying implications that may be
gathered from the cause-and-effect nature of this overall problem/issue.

2.1.2 Cardiovascular Problems

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Tomei et al., 1999, investigated the relationship between major venous pathologies in the legs
and prolonged standing. Clinical tests indicated that prolonged standing and age were related to
increased risk of venous pathologies. In a cross-sectional study examining the relationship
between prolonged standing and risk of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), Krijen et al.,
(1997b) found that 18% were diagnosed with minor CVI and that 11% were diagnosed with
major CVI symptoms. In a second paper focusing on the same workers, Krijen et al.,
(1997c) showed increases in leg volume with prolonged standing. Excess risk of varicose vein
occurrence was reported in Danish workers working mostly in a standing position that were
followed for three years after first hospitalization (Tüchsen et al., 2000).

2.1.3 Compression Stockings

Several studies have investigated the wearing of support stockings or hosiery during standing at
work using several subjective and biomechanical/physiological measures. Krijnen et al.,
(1997a) examined the effects of wearing compression stockings and floor mats on workers who
had been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and jobs which required prolonged
standing. Only the compression stockings showed intervention effectiveness (reduced leg
swelling). Kraemer et al., (2000) evaluated the effects of commercial hosiery rated light to
moderate compression on reducing lower body edema and discomfort. All commercial hosiery
evaluated was rated effective. McCulloch (2002) in a review of several studies done prior to
2000 concluded that support hose did play a positive role in reducing the symptoms of Chronic
Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and leg complaints, but the selection of the type of hose and the
severity of CVI was important. Consultation with a qualified health professional was
recommended, because some support hose may actually be more harmful than helpful if they
restrict lower leg venous return. Jungbeck et al., (2002) reported a four-week study to evaluate
the effects of compression hosiery in workers who worked in standing professions. Subjective
symptom ratings (leg pain, ankle swelling, tired and heavy leg, night cramps) and foot volumetry
(foot volume, expelled volume, refilling rate) were objective measurements collected. Only the
subjective ratings were statistically significantly. Study problems may have contributed to the
lack of definitive findings for the objective measures as not all participants wore the stockings
every day.

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