Association Between Work Posture and Workload and Musculoskeletal Complaints Among Reinforced Concrete Carvers: A Cross-Sectional Study

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FORMOSA NEWS - Bali - Poor Work Posture and High Workload Expose Bali Concrete Carvers to Severe Musculoskeletal Risks. A new study reveals that awkward work postures and heavy physical workloads directly cause severe musculoskeletal disorders among reinforced concrete carvers. Conducted by I Gusti Agung Haryawan from Universitas Udayana, the research investigated the physical strain experienced by traditional construction carvers in Ketewel Village, Gianyar Regency, Bali, between September and October 2024. Published in 2026 in the Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences, the study delivers crucial empirical evidence highlighting the urgent need for ergonomic protections in labor-intensive and informal construction sectors, where physical injury risks are often overlooked.

The construction industry remains one of the most physically hazardous sectors worldwide, with work-related musculoskeletal disorders affecting 50% to 59% of its workforce. These disorders diminish worker productivity, increase absenteeism, and create severe financial burdens on healthcare systems. Within this sector, reinforced concrete carvers face extreme physical conditions. Their daily tasks require repetitive cutting, bending, tying, and lifting of steel reinforcing bars, frequently performed under uncomfortable positions such as prolonged trunk bending, elevated arm posture, and manual heavy lifting. When combined with heat exposure and uneven terrain, these physical demands lead to cumulative physical exhaustion and long-term joint or tissue strain.

To evaluate these physical exposures, I Gusti Agung Haryawan at Universitas Udayana designed an analytical cross-sectional study involving 35 active male reinforced concrete carvers aged 35 to 65 years. The assessment utilized three standardized evaluation methods. Biomechanical postural risks were evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment tool, which measures physical strain based on joint angles, force, and body movement. Physiological workload was assessed using a 10-second working heart rate measurement method. Musculoskeletal discomfort across different body regions was recorded using the self-assessed Nordic Body Map questionnaire.

The research findings confirm a direct correlation between harmful working conditions and severe musculoskeletal discomfort among concrete carvers:

• Ergonomic Posture Risk: A striking 42.9% of workers fell into the high-risk posture category, while 45.7% faced medium risk. Only 11.4% operated under low postural risk conditions.
  
• Physiological Workload: The majority of participants (74.3%) experienced moderate physiological workloads, while 20% endured heavy workloads, and only 5.7% maintained light physical demands.
  
• Severity of Complaints: Most carvers suffered from significant physical pain, with 60% reporting moderate musculoskeletal complaints and 22.9% reporting severe complaints.
  
• Statistical Correlations: Spearman's rank analysis proved a strong positive correlation between high postural risk scores and severe musculoskeletal complaints ($r = 0.767, p < 0.001$). Working heart rate also showed a solid positive correlation with musculoskeletal complaints ($r = 0.624, p < 0.001$).
  
• Postural Impact on Workload: The study established that improper work posture directly increases physiological cardiovascular workload ($r = 0.708, p < 0.001$).
  
• Strength of Association: Goodman and Kruskal's Gamma analysis confirmed that postural risk ($\gamma = 0.905$) exerts a slightly stronger influence on complaint severity than physiological workload ($\gamma = 0.872$), though both remain critical factors.
  

These findings from Universitas Udayana carry major practical implications for occupational health guidelines, construction businesses, and public policy. Implementing simple ergonomic interventions—such as redesigned work tools, task rotations, structured rest intervals, and posture training—can substantially lower physical injury risks. Reducing musculoskeletal pain protects informal construction workers from chronic disability while improving job productivity and lowering long-term medical expenditures for families and local health systems. Emphasizing the core insight of the study, I Gusti Agung Haryawan from Universitas Udayana noted that work-related musculoskeletal disorders are inherently multifactorial, requiring integrated ergonomic solutions that combine posture corrections, physical workload management, and scheduled work-rest cycles to prevent cumulative physical exhaustion.

Author Profile

I Gusti Agung Haryawan is an academic researcher affiliated with Universitas Udayana in Bali, Indonesia. He specializes in occupational health and safety, ergonomics, work physiology, and industrial physical strain assessment.

Source
I Gusti Agung Haryawan. Association Between Work Posture and Workload and Musculoskeletal Complaints Among Reinforced Concrete Carvers: A Cross-Sectional Study. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol, 5 No. 8 Hal 1759-1772.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i8.107
URL: https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas