Abstract
Importance of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders(WMSDs) has been increasing in the manufacturing industry such as the domestic shipbuilding industry and car industry. Recently, companies have implemented the risk factor investigation due to the amendment of the industrial safety and health law in 2003. At the same time, some large companies have introduced and implemented an ergonomics program for WMSDs. Yet, until now a study of the effect and management of the ergonomics program has not been conducted. In 2005, we audited an ergonomics program in a domestic shipbuilding company four times for 9-month period. The company implemented an ergonomics program from 2003 to 2005. From the investigation, this paper reveals the effects and problems of the ergonomics program implemented by the company and presents methods for its improvement. The findings described in this paper will help the companies to implement their ergonomics program for WMSDs in the future.
