Ergonomic Assessment of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Fatigue Among Banquet Workers Serving Chinese Cuisine in Taiwan

Abstract

An ergonomics survey was conducted to investigate the musculoskeletal discomfort and fatigue for banquet workers serving Chinese Cuisine in Taiwan. A convenience sample (328 servers) was recruited, 91.8% of them were aged 15–24 years. A body map with a self-report checklist of physical fitness and fatigue syndromes were used to measure participants' discomfort levels during a five-hour workshift. The discomfort level increased for all measured body sites (p < 0.001) with the highest increase in the left elbow (130%). The discomfort rate was most prevalent in the left foot (59.8%). The multinomial multiple logistic regression model showed younger workers were more likely than senior workers to complain of discomfort in the left knee, left lower leg, and right foot (p < 0.05). Discomfort of the right knee had strong associations with height (OR = 2.76), weight (OR = 4.65), or body mass index (OR = 58.2). “Hunger and thirst” (72.3%) and “feeling the eyes were tired” (63.6%) were the most prevalent complaints among self-reported fatigue syndromes.

Key Words:

• Discomfort level
• physical fitness
• fatigue syndromes
• banquet workers
• Taiwan