The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment Among Traditional Krajood (Lepironia articulata) Handicraft Workers: A Case Study in Southern Thailand

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with awkward postures, causing health problems for workers. MSDs impact physical activity levels and decrease professional work capacity. The objective of this study is to investigate the ergonomic risks in a handicraft community enterprise group using Krajood as the main raw material. The sample group consisted of craftsmen who engage in woven bags, and it was selected using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected with a general information questionnaire, a risk assessment questionnaire for musculoskeletal disorders, and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) worksheet. The results indicate that musculoskeletal disorders were experienced by all the workers during the past year, with pain or discomfort in all 12 body parts. Moreover, most commonly, the pains were in the shoulders, upper back, lower back, and hands/wrists on both the left and the right side. The lower back exhibited a 100% prevalence of symptoms. The risk assessment by RULA indicated that the jobs had the highest possible total risk score at 7 points (45%), which needs to improve immediately. The top three high-risk work processes were the product line hammering steps, using a sewing machine to form the product, and the weaving and forming stage. Therefore, this study provides critical information for the craftsmen and their employers to improve workers’ health and production efficiency.