ERGONOMIC RISK SIMULATION USING RAPID UPPER LIMB ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR THE SITTING POSTURE OF GARMENTS WORKERS: A CASE OF RIVATEX EAST AFRICA LIMITED, ELDORET, KENYA

Abstract

Various research has investigated work risks and hazards using ergonomic analytical tools to prevent ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This paper simulated a human digital model of sitting posture using a rapid upper limb assessment tool for garment workers at Rivets East Africa Limited (REAL) factory, Eldoret, Kenya, to achieve a better score with an acceptable level of ergonomic risk. Anthropometric databases were used in the sewing workstation redesign, and digital human modeling aided the ergonomics simulation from the start of the product and workstation redesign process. Using the anthropometric data, a redesigned sewing workstation model was proposed. The proposed model was then simulated using computer-aided three-dimensional interactive application (CATIA V5) software based on rapid upper limb assessment (RULA). The redesigned sewing workstation had a final RULA score of 1, indicating that the ergonomic risk was negligible and the proposed redesign was acceptable. The outcomes of this study could therefore play a notable role in the growth of garment manufacturing by improving productivity and reducing worker fatigue.