The use of gloves reduces musculoskeletal disorders, workload, and increases the work productivity of gamelan craftsmen in Tihingan Village, Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia

Introduction: When making gamelan (a traditional Balinese musical instrument), craftsmen will face the grinding process. Working with hands exposed to vibrations for an extended period will cause musculoskeletal complaints such as stiffness and pain in the hands, tingling, loss of feeling (numbness), and trembling. It can also cause several diseases, such as Raynaud's Syndrome, Tenosynovitis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This study aimed to determine the effect of ergonomic gloves on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), workload, and work productivity of gamelan craftsmen in Tihingan Village, Klungkung, Bali. Method: This research is an experimental research with treatment by subject design. The population is 98 gamelan craftsmen in Tihingan village. The sample is determined based on small industry groups by simple random sampling with a random number table. The sample size was determined based on the musculoskeletal complaint score, so the sample size was 34 people. Inclusion criteria: Male or female gamelan craftsmen living in Tihingan Village, Klungkung Regency, aged 20-60 years, physically healthy with a medical examination, at least one year of work experience, and willing to be a research subject. Dropout criteria: not present during the research, suffering from illness during the research, for specific reasons withdrawing as a sample. Data were compared in two conditions (working with and without gloves). Result: We found improvement in all aspects, with complaints decreasing (31.28%), workload decreasing (6.07%), and work productivity increasing (12.12%) in treatment I compared to treatment II. Conclusion: Significant differences exist in musculoskeletal complaints, workload, and productivity.