Ergonomic risk factors analysis in remote workplace

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to synthesise ergonomic risk factors and their consequences on the well-being of employees working from the remote workplace. A comprehensive search was conducted in 15 databases ranging from June 1996 until January 2022. All qualitative and mixed method was explored related to ergonomic risk factors in remote workplace. Two independent reviewers were selected for inclusion and assessed each study quality. A systematic review and meta-synthesis guidelines were used to synthesise the findings of the included articles. The finding indicated that 26 articles met the inclusion and quality criteria. Nine key ergonomic risk factors were identified in the remote workplace. Moreover, back pain, pain in the neck, depression and vocal disorder were the identified musculoskeletal disorder in the remote workplace. Finally, a hypothetical model, and wellness wheel, which show the relationship among the nine ergonomic risk factors, workplace wellness and musculoskeletal-disorder were proposed. Hence, awkward posture, poor working environment, psychosocial risk factors, poor work-spaces design and work overload are the most dominantly studied ergonomic risk factors. Lower and upper back pain, pain in the neck and depression are also the most studied musculoskeletal disorders that affect the well-being of employees in the remote workplace.

Keywords:

• Impacts
• risk factors
• remote workplace
• workplace ergonomics
• MSD

Disclosure statement

The authors report that there is no competing interest to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shemelis Nesibu Wodajeneh

Shemelis Nesibu Wodajeneh is a Ph.D. student working on Ergonomic Workplace Design for Manufacturing Industry. He obtained his MSc in Production and Industrial System Engineering from Mekelle University, Ethiopia in 2011.

Daniel Kitawu Azene

Daniel Kitawu Azene is a Professor of Industrial Engineering at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He has authored and co-authored many articles in national and international journals in Quality Assurance Engineering, Productivity Improvement, Supply Chain Management, Technology Transfer and Global Competitiveness. He obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Polytechnic of Turin-Italy in 1999.

Birhanu Beshah Abebe

Birhanu Besha Abebe is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He has authored and co-authored many articles in national and international journals in Quality Engineering, Supply Chain Management, AHP and Productivity Improvement. He obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Addis Ababa University in Collaboration with Politechnico Di Torino in 2012.

Kassu Jilcha Sileyew

Kassu Jilcha Sileyewu is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He has authored and co-authored many articles in national and international journals in Occupational Health and Safety, Ergonomics, Workplace Innovations, Fuzzy AHP and Productivity Improvement. He obtained his Ph.D in industrial Engineering from Addis Ababa University.

Gezahegn Tesfaye Dadi

Gezahegn Tesfaye Dadi is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Addis Ababa University in 2018.