Risk factors and prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in metropolitan bus drivers: An assessment of whole body and hand-arm transmitted vibration

Prediction of Work-Related Risk Factors among Bus Drivers Using Machine Learning

A recent development in ergonomics research is using machine learning techniques for risk assessment and injury prevention. Bus drivers are more likely than other workers to suffer musculoskeletal diseases because of the nature of their jobs and their working conditions (WMSDs). The basic idea of this study is to forecast important work-related risk variables linked to WMSDs in bus drivers using machine learning approaches. A total of 400 full-time male bus drivers from the east and west zone depots of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which is based in Bengaluru, south India, took part in this study. In total, 92.5% of participants responded to the questionnaire. The Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to gather data on symptoms of WMSD during the past 12 months (MNMQ). Machine learning techniques including decision tree, random forest, and naïve Bayes were used to forecast the important risk factors related to WMSDs. It was discovered that WMSDs and work-related characteristics were statistically significant. In total, 66.75% of subjects reported having WMSDs. Various classifiers were used to derive the simulation results for the frequency of pain in the musculoskeletal systems throughout the last 12 months with the important risk variables. With 100% accuracy, decision tree and random forest algorithms produce the same results. Naïve Bayes yields 93.28% accuracy. In this study, through a questionnaire survey and data analysis, several health and work-related risk factors were identified among the bus drivers. Risk factors such as involvement in physical activities, frequent posture change, exposure to vibration, egress ingress, on-duty breaks, and seat adaptability issues have the highest influence on the frequency of pain due to WMSDs among bus drivers. From this study, it is recommended that drivers get involved in physical activities, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and maintain proper posture while driving. For any transport organization/company, it is recommended to design driver cabins ergonomically to mitigate the WMSDs among bus drivers.

Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms among Bus Drivers in the Taipei Metropolitan Area

Bus driving is considered a highly stressful and unhealthy occupation, even among sedentary jobs, because of the particular task characteristics. This study used the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to interview bus drivers and determine the risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort. The NMQ was distributed to 152 bus drivers in the Taipei metropolitan area (Taiwan) and the valid data of 145 respondents were analyzed. The survey revealed that the overall prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in any body part during the preceding year was 78.3%, and the body parts for which with the prevalence of discomfort was highest were the neck (46.9%), right shoulder (40.0%), lower back (37.2%), and left shoulder (33.8%). Stress and an uncomfortable seat may contribute to neck, shoulder, and lower back discomfort. Stretching between trips may help to reduce neck and shoulder discomfort. When comparing our results with those of similar studies, we discovered that the prevalence of symptoms and detailed risk factors vary by country and region. On this basis, we believe that local investigations emphasizing specific task arrangements and characteristics are needed to address the problem of musculoskeletal disorders in bus drivers.