Ergonomic Evaluation of a Packing Collapsible Tubes Workstation with Emphasis on the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Case from a Small Colombian Company

This study evaluated the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) associated with the workstation packing of collapsible tubes in a Colombian production line. In this company, musculoskeletal problems were the main cause of medical disability and the second highest cause of absenteeism. We analyzed MSD risk in selected tasks using the Individual Risk Assessment method (ERIN, in Spanish). Field visits collected data, including video recordings and pictures. Four workers were surveyed for body discomfort using the Spanish version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ). The wrist/hand and lower back had the highest discomfort frequency. The ERIN score was 30, indicating a very high risk of MSDs. The wrist and neck showed high risk, whereas the trunk and arms showed moderate risk. Recommendations included improving the workstation design by considering ergonomic principles. An adjustable industrial chair and conveyor belt were proposed. An ergonomic hook-type hand tool was designed to improve grip and reduce wrist deviation using the 3D modeling software Tinkercad.