Wednesday, July 20 2022, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI) held an Open Doctoral Promotion Session on behalf of Yayan Harry Yadi. The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah Prasetyo, M.Sc., and also attended by Prof. Dr. dr. L. Meily Kurniawidjaja, M.Sc., Sp.Ok, as promoter, and Dr. drg. Dewi Rahayu, M. Kes.; Ir. Hardianto Iridiastadi, MSIE., Ph.D.; Prof. Dr. -Ing. Ir. Asep Ridwan, ST., MT., IPM .; Dr. Besral, S.K.M., M.Sc., and Indri Hapsari Susilowati, S.K.M., M.K.K.K., Ph.D., as the examiner team. Yayan defended his dissertation entitled “Engineering Ergonomic Work Tools and Methods in the Chemical Industry Mixing Process Area to Reduce the Risk of Muscle and Skeletal Disorders Due to Work”.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (Gotrak) are caused by exposure to repeated loads. Data from Eurostat Figures on Recognized Occupational Diseases in Europe in 2013-2018 shows that occupational diseases related to musculoskeletal rank first compared to other occupational diseases. Gotrak can be prevented by designing work systems using ergonomic tools and methods. Yayan’s dissertation aims to get an overview of Gotrak’s risk factors in the chemical industry and examine the effects of engineering tools and ergonomic work methods on Gotrak. The research was conducted in four (4) chemical industries in Cilegon in 2019 using a cross-sectional method.
The study results found that around 30-50% of workers in the chemical industry experience neck, lower back, shoulder, knee, upper back, and ankle strokes. Several factors influence the occurrence of Gotrak, from individual, physical, and psychosocial factors. Individual risk factors include age, body mass index (BMI), and length of work. Physical risk factors, namely the duration of the percentage of total working time to the work position and the weight of the load. Meanwhile, psychosocial risk factors consist of awards and skills discretion.
Yayan succeeded in making a prototype of a manual conveyor aid that is ergonomic, portable and adjustable. In addition, it was found that pushing activities cause smaller muscle contractions compared to lifting activities. Yayan recommended that the chemical industry provide training related to the impact of Gotrak and educate employees to build a culture of healthy living.
Based on the results of his dissertation, Yayan has officially declared a Doctor in the Field of Public Health. Yayan became the 17th graduate of the 2022 Masters in Public Health Sciences (IKM), the 271st graduate of the IKM Doctoral Program, and the 351st graduate of the FPH Doctoral Program. (WR)
