Ergonomics Intervention in Twisting Natural Fiber Activities to Reduce Workload and Work Fatigue in Small-Scale Industries in Indonesia

The research was conducted in natural fibre crafts in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The work studied is twisting the Agel fibre as part of the handicraft product-making process. When twisting the fibre, the worker sits on the floor mat. Body posture when working is bent, twisted, and bent legs. Furthermore, as work is monotonous and repetitive, it may result in fatigue, which affects work productivity. As a result, this study aimed to provide ergonomic interventions to improve work environments to reduce workload and fatigue, thus increasing productivity. Analysis of true experiments with a treatment plan by subject had been implemented on 15 workers. There were two working conditions comprising conventional and working states based on ergonomic interventions. Pulse rates were measured using a pulse meter to determine workload. Observation method using a questionnaire to determine general fatigue. A questionnaire from the Japan Association of Industrial and Health determined indications of general fatigue. The measurement results in data between the two working conditions were analysed using paired sample t-test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results show a significant decrease in workload, from 19.63 ± 2.61 to 14.04 ± 2.64 (28.47% of decreasing). Fatigue decreased from 43.8 ± 1.86 to 34.20 ± 1.01 (21.92% of dropping). This study concluded that ergonomic interventions could reduce fatigue and workload through improvements to work facilities and, ultimately, increase productivity at work.