DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/dmj.v15i4.55158

ERGONOMIC IMPACT OF LIFTING ACTIVITIES ON LOW BACK PAIN IN MALANG’S SANITARY WARE INDUSTRY

*Rubayat Indradi orcid  -  Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical Faculty, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang., Indonesia
Marinda Rahman  -  Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Febri Endra Budi Setyawan  -  Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia
Open Access Copyright 2026 Rubayat Indradi, Marinda Rahman, Febri Endra Budi Setyawan
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder linked to repetitive ergonomic tasks, resulting in discomfort and reduced productivity. In Malang’s sanitary ware industry, workers frequently perform lifting and carrying tasks. Workers involved in lifting activities are particularly vulnerable to these risks. Objective: This research sought to address gaps in knowledge about the relationship between ergonomic factors and LBP severity among this occupational setting. Methods: Observational-analytic study was conducted on August-October 2022 using a cross-sectional survey of workers in Malang’s sanitary ware industry, with the size of the research sample were 42 participants. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Somers’ D correlation test in SPSS. Ethical clearance was obtained, and participants provided informed consent. Results: The analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between lifting activities and LBP complaints. The correlation strength indicated a weak association, but most workers reported moderate LBP severity, highlighting ergonomic challenges in the workplace (p = 0.032, r = 0.315). Conclusion: This study underscores the ergonomic impact of lifting activities on LBP among industrial workers. The findings highlight the necessity of ergonomic interventions to mitigate LBP risks. Future studies should focus on implementing and evaluating long-term ergonomic strategies to improve occupational health outcomes in similar industries.

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Keywords: ergonomic; low back pain; musculoskeletal; occupational health; workers

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