Evaluation of Working Posture of Construction Workers: A Case Study on Wall Construction Using Lightweight Bricks

Workers are an important factor in the implementation of a construction project.Applying ergonomic postures for workers in the projects is necessary to minimize the risk of work accidents and the risk of experiencing musculoskeletal disorders (MsDs).The use of lightweight brick for wall construction is relatively new and is in great demand by construction industries in Indonesia.During wall construction, workers do repetitive activities such as bending, kneeling, holding tools, or tilting the body.These activities potentially increase the risk of injury and musculoskeletal disorders.This study aims to assess the work posture of workers on the wall construction using lightweight brick and to analyze the high-risk activities.The wall construction work assessment included five stages of activities, (1) material transfer, (2) practical columns making and installation, (3) lightweight brick adhesive dough-making process, (4) lightweight bricks laying, and (5) lightweight brick plaster.The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method was used to evaluate the working posture.This method was developed to investigate the risk of abnormalities that workers will potentially experience.Based on the RULA employee assessment worksheet, the research results showed that 69% of workers have a high-risk level of work posture and 31% have low-risk levels of work posture.There are three activities with a high-risk level, namely, material transfer, lightweight brick laying, and lightweight brick plaster.At the same time, practical column making and installation work and lightweight brick adhesive dough-making processes are at a low-risk level.According to the RULA risk level, action is required to investigate and immediately improve activities with a high-risk level.If workers continue to work with the same posture, they will be at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders related to the neck, trunk, and wrists in the near future.Correcting the worker's posture can be done by improving work position, process, and workplace layout.