ANALYSIS OF ERGONOMIC FACTORS ON BARBERS RELATED TO THE USE OF BARBERSHOP CHAIRS IN TANJUNGPINANG CITY

Abstract

Working in standing positions for a long period of time causes muscle tension and
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) complaints. It is often experienced by barbers,
where work interactions between work facilities and users must ideally consider work
ergonomics, such as work posture, body dimensions, and work tools. This study aimed
to analyze ergonomic factors on the use of barbershop chairs for barbers in
Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands Province. This research was a descriptive analytic
study, with a cross sectional study approach through observations, questionnaires,
interviews, and measurements in the field. The samples of this study amounted to 50
chairs and 50 barbers. The results revealed that there was no relationship between work
posture and the use of chair (p-value = 0.173-1.000). In addition, there was no
relationship between the dimensions of the barbers’ body and the use of chair (p-value =
0.098-1.000). However, there was a relationship between the dimensions of chair and
the use of chair, for the type of chairs and conformity (p-value = 0.048), backrest length
and MSDs (p-value = 0.004), seat height and convenience (p-value = 0.049), footrest
length and MSDs (p-value = 0.017), and footrests width and MSDs (p-value = 0.010);
There was a relationship between covariate variable (hours of work) and the use of chair
(MSDs) (p-value = 0.004). Hours of work had an important role in MSDs complaints,
so the barbers should be able to do muscle stretching activities to avoid static work
postures and to re-design the chair design to be more ergonomic.