Effectiveness of an adjustable trolley for specimen handling in a blood screening unit

Background: Employees involved in sample collection for testing often perform physically demanding tasks such as bending, lifting, twisting, and standing for long periods. These repetitive activities can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the ergonomic risks associated with sample collection in a blood screening laboratory. Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved eight volunteers who worked from August 21, 2023, to June 13, 2024, in a blood screening unit in the Nakhon Sawan province. Data were collected using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and flow process chart. Further analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon signed rank test to evaluate the success of the intervention. Results: Six participants were women who frequently exhibited awkward postures, including bending, twisting, tilting, reaching with hands and arms, lifting over the shoulders, pulling, and bending their knees. The average REBA score for working postures was 11.63, indicating a high level of risk and the need for immediate corrective measures. Pain prevalence was highest in the lower back (100.0%), followed by the shoulders and upper back (87.5% each), and the neck (75.0%). After using the adjustable trolley, the risk assessment score for working postures decreased significantly to an average of 2.50. Pain levels in various body parts also showed a significant reduction, including the upper back (P-value = 0.027), lower back (P-value = 0.010), hands and wrists (P-value = 0.034), neck (p-value = 0.023), and shoulders (P-value = 0.016). Additionally, the trolley reduced the number of work steps from 16 to 9 (a 43.75% decrease) and shortened the work time per bag from 970 to 570 seconds (a 41.20% reduction). Conclusion: The use of the adjustable trolley significantly reduced awkward postures and pain, thereby lowering the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and enhancing worker safety and efficiency.