The usage of behaviour based safety process for decreasing work-related musculoskeletal diseases at the sales department of a factory

Objective: According to the International Labour Organisation, occupational diseases and work-related diseases are the musculoskeletal diseases in the first place. Ergonomic inadequacies such as monotonous tasks, repetitive movements, movements which require force, unhealthy body posture, unsafe acts and vibration have an important impact on the development of musculoskeletal diseases. In order to reduce ergonomics risks factors many interventions have been developing such as engineering, administrative, and behavioural/ personal interventions. The Behavioural Based Safety (BBS) process is a good example for behavioural / personal ergonomic interventions. Although BBS is used for occupational accident commonly, there is not many examples for occupational diseases. Methods: The BBS system which was developed by factory health and safety professionals had been established in the factory 6 months ago. BBS was consisted four steps: I observed it, I solved it, I prevented it and I monitored it. Fifteen workers were trained and worked in this system actively. The system was implemented in 34 employees who work in the factory sales department. System was used as an example unsafe act that might caused occupational musculoskeletal diseases at factory sales department. Results: Thirty-four employees were working at the sales department. Twenty-five (73.5%) of the cases were male. The most common complaints were neck pain, which was expressed by 94.1% of the employees, and neck stiffness which was expressed by 44.1% of the employees. RULA score was 6.15 ± 0.60 prior the implementation, it was 5.12±0.80 afterwards (p < 0.001). The presence of musculoskeletal complaints was 94.10% prior the implementation, while it was 61.7% afterwards (p=0.03). The Sickness Absenteeism Incidence Rate (SAIR) prior the implementation was 235‰, while it was 176‰ (p < 0.001) afterwards. Conclusion: The BBS process is mainly used in researches which aim to prevent or decrease work-related accidents There are also a few examples, similar to our research, regarding its implementation at ergonomic interventions to prevent occupational diseases. As our research has been carried out only with a small group of employees it was able to successful by workers active role in all levels. This process may be considered as a promising approach for the prevention of OMDS. As to evluted the feasibility and the long terms results of the process it should be applied to larger groups. The system should be update according to the feed backs which are received after the implementation regularly