Ergonomics Study of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Tram Drivers
Source abstract
Abstract
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the most prevalent occupational health issues, particularly affecting public transport drivers due to prolonged sitting, constrained postures, and poorly adaptable cabins. This study addresses the ergonomic risks associated with tram driving, aiming to evaluate biomechanical load and postural stress in relation to drivers’ anthropometric characteristics. A combined methodological approach was applied, integrating two standardized observational tools—RULA and REBA—with anthropometric modeling based on three representatives European morphotypes (SmallW, MidM, and TallM). ErgoFellow 3.0 software was used for digital posture evaluation, and lumbar moments at the L4/L5 vertebral level were calculated to estimate lumbar loading. The analysis was simulation-based, using digital human models, and no real subjects were involved. The results revealed uniform REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) and RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) scores of 6 across all morphotypes, indicating moderate to high risk and a need for ergonomic intervention. Lumbar moments ranged from 51.35 Nm (SmallW) to 101.67 Nm (TallM), with the tallest model slightly exceeding the recommended ergonomic thresholds. These findings highlight a systemic mismatch between cabin design and user variability. In conclusion, ergonomic improvements such as adjustable seating, better control layout, and driver education are essential to reduce the risk of WMSDs. The study proposes a replicable methodology combining anthropometric, observational, and biomechanical tools for evaluating and improving transport workstation design.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders · Effects of Vibration on Health
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
References (52)
Show source-provided references
1. Wickens, C.D., Gordon, S.E., Liu, Y., and Lee, J. (1997). An introduction to Human Factors Engineering, Addison Wesley Longman.
2. Gajšek, B., Draghici, A., Boatca, M.E., Gaureanu, A., and Robescu, D. (2022). Linking the Use of Ergonomics Methods to Workplace Social Sustainability: The Ovako Working Posture Assessment System and Rapid Entire Body Assessment Method. Sustainability, 14.10.3390/su14074301 ↗
3. Ehnert, I., Harry, W., and Zink, K.J. (2014). Social Sustainability and Quality of Working Life. Sustainability and Human Resource Management: Developing Sustainable Business Organizations, Springer.10.1007/978-3-642-37524-8 ↗
4. Ehnert, I., Harry, W., and Zink, K.J. (2014). Sustainability and HRM. Sustainability and Human Resource Management: Developing Sustainable Business Organizations, Springer.10.1007/978-3-642-37524-8 ↗
5. Ergonomics as a tool to improve the sustainability of the workforce
6. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2001). Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace: Low Back and Upper Extremities, National Academy Press.
7. Longitudinal relations between psychosocial work environment, stress and the development of musculoskeletal pain10.1002/smi.1372 ↗
8. Kee, D. (2022). Comparison of LEBA and RULA Based on Postural Load Criteria and Epidemiological Data on Musculoskeletal Disorders. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.10.3390/ijerph19073967 ↗
9. Occupational and individual risk factors for shoulder-neck complaints: Part II—The scientific basis (literature review) for the guide10.1016/0169-8141(92)90051-Z ↗
10. Lumbar spinal moments in chronic back pain patients during supported lifting: A dynamic analysis10.1016/S0003-9993(97)90059-9 ↗
11. The impact on musculoskeletal disorders of changing physical and psychosocial work environment conditions in the automobile industry10.1016/S0169-8141(01)00011-7 ↗
12. Adams, R., and Nino, V. (2024). Work-Related Psychosocial Factors and Their Effects on Mental Workload Perception and Body Postures. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 21.10.3390/ijerph21070876 ↗
13. Injury by design: A thematic networks and system dynamics analysis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in tram drivers10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103644 ↗
14. A prospective cohort study of neck and shoulder pain in professional drivers10.1080/00140139.2014.935487 ↗
15. Tan, C.F., Chen, W., Delbressine, F., and Rauterberg, M. (2008, January 14–19). Objectifying discomfort seat measurement for next generation truck driver’s seat. Proceedings of the FISITA World Automotive Congress, Munich, Germany.
16. Das, S. (2021). Soumyajit Das Comparative Ergonomic Review Study of common Road-transport Drivers. SSRN, 3855769.10.2139/ssrn.3855769 ↗
17. Lumbar spinal loads and lumbar muscle forces evaluation with various lumbar supports and backrest inclination angles in driving posture10.1007/s00586-022-07446-x ↗
18. Roossien, C.C., Baten, C.T., van der Waard, M.W., Reneman, M.F., and Verkerke, G.J. (2021). Automatically Determining Lumbar Load during Physically Demanding Work: A Validation Study. Sensors, 21.10.3390/s21072476 ↗
19. Association between sitting and occupational LBP10.1007/s00586-006-0143-7 ↗
20. Costs of occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the United States10.1016/j.ergon.2014.01.008 ↗
21. Postural Analysis Through RULA, REBA And QEC of Vendors Selling Edible Items At Railway Stations And In The Trains10.35940/ijeat.A9878.109119 ↗
22. Study and Analysis of Work Postures of Workers working in a Ceramic Industry through Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
23. Ramamohan Rao; Sriram Venkatesh Evaluation of Drivers Seating Posture by REBA Analysis
24. Ergonomic intervention research for improved musculoskeletal health: A critical review10.1016/S0169-8141(96)00076-5 ↗
25. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30480-X ↗
26. Comparative effect of driving side on low back pain due to Repetitive Ipsilateral Rotation10.12669/pjms.35.4.488 ↗
27. Kee, D. (2022). Systematic Comparison of OWAS, RULA, and REBA Based on a Literature Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19.10.3390/ijerph19010595 ↗
28. Musculoskeletal problems among workers of an Iranian communication company10.4103/0019-5278.32462 ↗
29. Ergonomic Risk Factors and Their Association With Lower Back and Neck Pain Among Pharmaceutical Employees in Iran10.1177/2165079916655807 ↗
30. External and internal geometry of European adults10.1080/00207540500422338 ↗
31. Casadei, K., and Kiel, J. (2025). Anthropometric Measurement. StatPearls [Internet], StatPearls Publishing.
32. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (U.S.), National Center for Health Statistics (U.S.), and Westat (1988). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III: Body Measurements (Anthropometry), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
33. (2025, July 10). ISSA Section Machine and System Safety: Anthropometrics. Available online: https://www.safe-machines-at-work.org/human-factors/work-place-design-issues/design-to-fit-body-dimensions/anthropometrics.
34. The Compact Formulation of Anthropodynamical Measures in Physiological Anthropology
35. Harmonic distribution of the segmental masses of the human body
36. Evaluation of Validity and Reliability of Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Method in Research Experiment: A Systematic Review10.4236/ojsst.2025.151001 ↗
37. Landekić, M., Bačić, M., Bakarić, M., Šporčić, M., and Pandur, Z. (2023). Working Posture and the Center of Mass Assessment While Starting a Chainsaw: A Case Study among Forestry Workers in Croatia. Forests, 14.10.3390/f14020395 ↗
38. Loading along the lumbar spine as influence by speed, control, load magnitude, and handle height during pushing10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2008.10.007 ↗
39. Ergonomic evaluation of USB used in buses
40. Dorsopathy in urban public transport drivers in relation to occupational risks and workloads10.1051/matecconf/202134201018 ↗
41. Black, N.L., Neumann, W.P., and Noy, I. (2021, January 13–18). Driving Posture Assessment: A New Approach. Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021), Online.10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_105 ↗
42. Moving Toward Individual-Specific Automotive Seat Design: How Individual Characteristics and Time Alter the Selected Lumbar Support Prominence10.1177/00187208211042776 ↗
43. Are Bus Drivers at an Increased Risk for Developing Musculoskeletal Disorders? An Ergonomic Risk Assessment Study
44. Das, S., Patra, S., Danda, S., Mallick, B., and Pandey, A. (2021, January 8–10). Working Posture Evaluation of Bus Drivers—Using CMDQ and RULA Technique. Proceedings of the International Conference of the Indian Society of Ergonomics, Aligarh, India.10.1007/978-3-030-94277-9_15 ↗
45. Saftarina, F., Mayasari, D., and Octaviani, D. (2017). Analysis of Work Posture Using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) as the Risk Factor of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Inter-provincial Bus Drivers. BMC Public Health, 17.
46. Revised NIOSH equation for the design and evaluation of manual lifting tasks10.1080/00140139308967940 ↗
47. (2017). Basic Human Body Measurements for Technological Design—Part 1: Body Measurement Definitions and Landmarks (Standard No. ISO 7250-1:2017). Available online: https://www.iso.org/standard/65246.html.
48. Chaffin, D.B., Andersson, G.B., and Martin, B.J. (2006). Occupational Biomechanics, John Wiley & Sons.
49. Elbert, K.K. (2017). Fitting the Human—Introduction to Ergonomics/Human Factors Engineering, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.
50. (2005). Ergonomics—Human Body Dimensions—Part 2: Values (Standard No. DIN 33402-2:2005-12). Available online: https://www.dinmedia.de/en/standard/din-33402-2/84092742.
51. Neufert, E., and Neufert, P. (2012). Neufert Architects’ Data, Wiley-Blackwell.10.1007/978-3-8348-2247-5 ↗
52. (2017). Earth-moving machinery — Physical dimensions of operators and minimum operator space envelope (Standard No. ISO 3411:2007). Available online: https://www.iso.org/standard/38911.html.