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Evaluation of driving-related musculoskeletal disorders in motorbike riders using Quick Exposure Check (QEC)

Ramasamy S, Adalarasu K, Trupti N Patel

Road safety has been a major concern globally with increasing number of vehicles and distance of travel per day. Of the many problems that have been addressed, disorders of the musculoskeletal system among drivers have become a growing public health problem worldwide. QEC is an observational tool developed for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practitioners, to evaluate four major areas of the body such as back, shoulder/arm, neck and wrist/hand. The main objective of this study is to investigate the risk factors that are prevalent in the Development of Driving related Musculoskeletal Disorders (DMSD) in 286 Indian motorbike riders using Quick Exposure Check (QEC). The scores obtained using QEC were determined to be high in back and shoulder/arm for motorbike having overall kerb weight between 137 kg to 145 kg and seat height between 785 mm to 790 mm, moderate for bike has weight of 132 kg and seat height of 775 mm and less for motorbike having overall weight of 187 kg and seat height of 800 mm. The scores for wrist/hand were found to be moderate for motorbikes that had less seat height and moderate kerb weight and low for higher seat. The scores computed for neck found to be moderate for all motorbikes. The regions of the body such as back and shoulder/arm had most possible occurrence of driving related musculoskeletal disorders. The study also examines the risk factors for DMSD associated with driving, work pace, vehicle vibration and stress. The results of this study show an exceptionally high occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders among motorbike riders and hence call for a change in the riding posture and modifications in the design of the vehicle.