The Analysis of Ergonomic Task Demand and Psychosocial Work Factors towards Occupational Safety and Health

The increase in cases of accidents at workplace, the absence of employees to the work, the rise in illness and high job stress give signs that more urgent action should be taken. If the situation that causes this problem continues, it will certainly also have negative impacts not only on employees, but also on organizations and parties directly related to employees. Occupational safety and health (OSH) aspects are key issues that need to be addressed by organizations. Previous studies have also shown that ergonomics plays an important role with OSH issues and problems, especially in the manufacturing sector. The implementation of certain initiatives based on ergonomics may provide a way of solving, or alleviating users, safety and health problems in the workplace. This study aimed to examine the ergonomic task demands and psychosocial work factors (PWF) of OSH performance in printing companies. The use of a combination of measurement tools from previous studies has resulted in a special design of questionnaire for this study. Respondents who participated in the study were selected by using stratified random sampling at the printing companies. Two hundred and ninety five respondents from several printing companies in Malaysia were surveyed and analysed. The findings showed that most of the employees were not aware of issues related to ergonomics at work. It was also found that higher job demands contribute to employee stress, accidents and lead to absenteeism problems which representing OSH performance. In addition, the findings showed that shows that PWF (decision authority & social support) are negatively related to OSH performance. Therefore, several initiatives should be taken by organisation to enhance employee’s performance especially in regards to implementation of ergonomics aspects as well as safety and health components. Keyword: Task Factors, OSH Performance, Psychosocial Work Factors, Printing Company INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND


Introduction
The development of a borderless world and the movement of sophisticated modern technology promise a variety of changes to be made. Developing countries are also receiving the same impact where changes need to be made in line with the passage of time. This includes developments in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH). For example, in the 18th and 19th centuries, OSH has become an important field in many countries, especially in Western countries. The focus on the development and change of the OHS field in the workplace is becoming increasingly complex. The complexities of today's safety and health hazards mirror the difficulties associated with modern workplace technology in the organisation. It is important to grow a broad range of knowledge, as well as OSH-related skills, to guarantee the well-being of a company's human and other resources.
In the Malaysian perspective, to support the implementation of OSH in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994 (OSHA 1994) was introduced. This Act included provisions for securing the safety, health, and welfare of persons at work. It also sought to keep other people against safety and health risks related to the activities of persons at work, and also oversaw the establishment of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, which deals with related matters (OSHA, 2010). Thus, under OSHA of 1994 employers assumed accountability for taking care of the health and safety of company workers and workers.
Poor job design, lack of training, and support from organizational management as well as opportunities in decision-making while working can make employees vulnerable to stress and sickness. Unfortunate working conditions are also shown to consequence in innumerable back injuries, stress, and an incidence of accidents (Jia Wern & Selamat, 2019;Saad, Said & Abdul-Halim, 2012;Selamat & Mukapit, 2018;Zakaria, Mansor & Abdullah, 2012). For instance, in Malaysia, the number of workers involved in workplace/work-related accidents in manufacturing was the highest, with 4,070 cases in 2019, followed by construction and trading with 5,908 and 5,397 cases, respectively (Department of Occupational Safety and Health, [DOSH], 2019). Empirical report by SOCSO (2018) showed that more than 1000 cases were involved in accidents due to working environment factors such as a bad working surface, unconditional of floors, which considered as a part of ergonomics essentials. Therefore, a call for ergonomic elements, such as workplace design, working environment and high technology machine systems are important on the OSH contexts that may alleviate the occurrence of accidents in the workplace is high.
Ergonomics deals with an application of information about human behaviour, capabilities, and limitations to the design of systems, machines, tools, tasks and environments for productive, safe, and operative human use (Ashraf, Saedd Al-Araimi, & Bill, 2002;Carayon, 2009;Shaliza et al., 2009). Others define ergonomics as the science of designing the job to fit the worker, instead of forcing the employee to fit the job (Carayon & Smith, 2000;Occupational Safety & Health Act [OSHA], 1994;Rowan & Wright, 1994;Zafir et al., 2013;Selamat, 2016).
It is essential to promote and sustain the highest degree of physical, mental, and social well-being of individuals in all occupations to ensure their performance at workplace (Archer, Borthwick & Tepe, 2009). Overlooking the importance of maintaining workers health and social well-being at work will lead to numerous difficulties to both the individuals (workers) as well as the organisation (Selamat, 2016). Specifically, this may contribute to a loss of workers' talents and a decline in organisational productivity and performance.
At an individual level, low levels of health consequences, may affect not only one's own quality life but likewise their relationship with others. In general mental depression will lower person's normal competence to perform but may also drive away friends and family because the negative reaction you may give due to the depression. (Long, 1995;Niedhammer, Chastang & David, 2008), and contributes to a rise in unemployment. Recent study on health and wellness amongst six Asian countries were included Malaysia had reported that 48% out of 532 Malaysian respondent suffered from some minor health, while 30% of Malaysian women and seven per cent of men had serious health issues (News Strait Time on September 20, 2015). On the other hand, companies with the highest health harms, poor facilities, and environmental issuess as well as a poor workstation will lead to a decline in their employees' work performance (Azman & Selamat, 2019;Selamat, 2016;Selamat & Mukapit, 2018). At the end, it could affect organizational such as increase other organizations cost and contributed to lost.
Moreover, problems also happen as a result of a lack of attention to psychosocial work factors (PWF), which contributes to the likelihood of workers getting involved in safety problem such as accidents, as well as experiencing stress, absence doing their work, depression and fatigue (Annalisa et al., 2013;Bartram, Yadegarfar & Baldwin, 2009;Kefri & Selamat, 2021;Selamat & Mukapit, 2018). Work ineffectiveness, working discomfort, health problems actually can be influenced by PWF (Rugulies et al., 2007;Larsman & Hanse, 2009) which eventually affect the overall workers well-being. As stated in the study by Kadir Ariffin et al (2020) that are the responsibility of key parties in the organization such as organizational management, supervisors and colleagues have an important role in improving the level of employee safety. Therefore, in an effort to prevent safety and health-related problems through an ergonomic approach in the workplace, due attention must be given seriously to PWF (Selamat, 2016).
The purpose of this study to attempt on does ergonomic task demand and psychosocial work factors affect occupational safety and health performance? This study seeks to expand the body of academic knowledge in evaluating OSH performance. Past study had mentioned that theory has shown three indicators, namely absenteeism, sickness, and occupational stress as major concerns of workers' outcome. Additionally, workplace accidents were found to be the most important measure of OSH performance (Ahmadon et al., 2006;Archer et al., 2005;Selamat et al., 2020). Therefore, this study also intends to include occupational accidents as another indicator of OSH performance as this has yet to be done.
This study hopes to understand the practical implementation of OSH at the organization in the Malaysian context. The priority is given in Malaysia, to evaluate the applications of OSH in the workplace that are still infrequent. As a major concern in this study that would contribute to give an organisation especially in the human resource department as an indication to the importance of different factors and not just a factor in determining OSH performance. It might help the managers in systematizing the process of work and support them towards providing a good decision related to the workers and job issues. Most importantly, the findings of this study aim to encourage organisations to improve their human resource performance by creating a safety workplace, and a well-organized work system by taking into account relevant psychosocial features.

Literature Review
An ergonomic work system provides a way of describing all of the fundamentals of work that affect workforces and outcomes. Eric and Curt (2008) stated ergonomics as systematic applications and limitations to the design of systems with the aim of optimising the interaction between persons and other system elements to enhance safety, performance, and satisfaction.
In this study, work system refers to the elements of task factors or demand, individual factors, and organisational factors (Carayon, 2009;Smith & Carayon, 1989). This is based on the work system model concerning tasks performed by an individual using tools and technologies, the tasks performed in a physical environment and under organisational conditions (Smith & Carayon, 1989). Other than that, PWF has been described as how workers and managers perceive work organisation (Toomingasm et al., 1997). Karasek and Theorell (1990), as well as Johnson and Hall (2006) described that PWF exposure conditions contain mental demands, level of control, and social support at workplace. In this study, PWF is defined to include decision authority and social support.
According to Spector (2008) performance refers to the achievement of employee's behaviour while doing their work in good condition and it also depends on the employee's ability to be able to perform under simulated conditions. It refers to behavioural aspects that contribute outcomes to the company or organisation (Cambell, 1993). In addition, OSH refers to an act of creating further provisions for securing the safety, health and well-being of persons at work, and for protecting others against risks and hazard to safety or health in connection with the activities of individuals at work (OSHA, 2010). The purpose of OSH is to establish the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health and for matters connected therewith (OSHA, 2010).
In other words, it means promoting and maintaining the highest degree of physical, mental, and social well-being of employees in all occupations (Archer et al., 2005). The current study describes OSH performance as the look on the restraint in preserving and protecting individual workers and facility resources at the workplace including social, mental, physical, and well-being aspects (Kohn, Friend & Winterberger, 1996). It also emphases on preventing the occurrence of several safety and health-related problems including: absenteeism, sickness, occupational stress, and occupational accidents (Selamat, 2016: Selamat & Mukapit, 2018.

Methodology
This study adopted the descriptive study approach, offering a profile, or a description, of relevant aspects of the phenomena of interest to the researcher from the perspective of the individual, company or organization, industry, or other relevant body (Sekaran, 2000). The study also touched upon individual behaviour. Thus, the quantitative method was used as the core method to analyse data from respondents.
In studying the relationship between task factors or demand, PWF and OSH performance, the research population was considered to be all the workforces in printing companies in Malaysia. The total number of employees in printing companies in Malaysia is 47,102 employees (DOSM, 2006) in 3162 printing companies that have registered with the Home Affairs Ministry of Malaysia (2002). The lists of printing companies were obtained from the Registrar of Companies (ROC) and also from the Malaysian Printers Association (MPA).
This study was also involved the main respondent which is the production line workers; refer to the individuals involved in operations of the production department. This includes those who operate related any printing machines, folding machines, and binding machines as well as all other workforces who are associated with production departments/units. This study conducted using stratified random sampling that assists in estimating the population parameters and identifying the subgroup of elements within the population. The process of selection the population based on the list of companies provided by MPA and ROC. Every companies were distributed 15 to 20 set of questionnaire to the potential respondents depended on the size of the organisation or companies. Therefore, it was randomly selecting the organisation followed by the State which to address the fact that there is wide variance in the number of companies located by the different State. Yet, the total of workers (47,102 workers) in printing companies in Malaysia provided by DOSM (2006) was used as standard in order to achieve the sample size of study. Thus, as reported by DOSM the estimated total number of the population is 37,682 employees and the sample size is therefore estimated at 381 respondents. At the end, the study successfully received completed questionnaires from 383 respondents but only 295 are useable.
In this study, a set of questionnaires was created to determine the relationship between task factors or demands, PWF toward OSH performance. Moreover, this study adapted certain approaches to ensemble the context of the study. This means that several elements from others studies were utilized to support in measuring variables in these study. In addition, the five-point Likert scale was used to measure every item in the questionnaire. The Likert scale consists of statements that express either a favourable or an unfavourable attitude toward the object of interest (Cooper & Schindler, 2008;Sekaran & Bougie, 2010). In other words, subjects are asked to agree or disagree with each item or statement in the questionnaire. Hence, each response is given a numerical mark reflecting the degree of agreement or disagreement, and the scores can be added together to ascertain the participant's overall attitude (Cooper & Schindler, 2008).
OSH performance is related to the ability and certain behavioural parts that contribute to several outcomes. It can be referred such as promoting and maintaining a high degree of physical, mental, and social well-being among workers. However, the current study defines OSH performance as matters related to a number of specific OSH aspects. Therefore, in this study to define OSH performance will only focus on absenteeism, sickness, occupational stress, and occupational accidents. In measuring task factors, it is refer to the work system model which represented as quantity demand and sensorial demand on the individual workers. The total item was used in these measurement was 18 items with the worthy value of Cronbach alpha (0.74). Meanwhile in measuring PWF, study were used the definition on how the workers feel in doing their jobs which included the aspects of decision authority, supervisor support, and the support of peers (social support) and the value of Cronbach alpha was 0.84. In measuring ergonomic task factor or demand, this describes part of the factors at work that affect employees and outcome (OSH performance). It is stated that the work system model places psychosocial, cognitive, and physical loads on the individual. Moreover, the work system model is utilized as an instrument to measure employee's outcome through factors such as task factors, organizational factors, and individual factors. Therefor task factor in the work system was choosing that presenting as ergonomic task factors or demands.
Regarding the analysis process, Hair et al (2006) stated that multiple regressions refer to a statistical technique, which analyses the linear relationship between a single dependent (criterion variable) which included several independent (predictor) variables. The main purpose of multiple regression analysis is to predict how dependent variables change in response to changes in the independent variables. According to Hair et al (2006), in applying multiple regression analysis, two principles need to be given attention which refer to (1) the data must be metric or appropriately transformed, and (2) before deriving the regression equation, the researcher must decide which variable is to be dependent, and which remaining variables are independent. Thus, multiple regressions were also used to determine the relationship between the measurements of task factors or demand, PWF -referred to as independent variables, toward OSH performance -referred to as dependent variables.

Result & Discussions
After several analyses had done, the final result shown as below. Table 1.0 shows the profiles of the respondents. Fewer than 2% of those involved in the study were below 20 years of age, with the youngest respondent aged 17. Result shows about 6% of respondents were aged 51 or older, with the oldest respondent aged 58. The mean age was 35.34 years (SD = 8.93). The common of respondents were in the 31 to 40 years age group (36.3%), followed by those in the 21 to 30 years age group (35.6%). Twenty point seven percent of respondents were aged between 41 and 50. Most of the respondents were male with a rate of 87.5% (n = 258), compared to females at 12% (n = 37).
According to Table 1.0 more than half of the respondents (68.1%) were married, whereas 29.8% were still single, 1.4% divorced, and 0.7% widowed. The vast majority of respondents (93.9%) were ethnically Malay, while fewer than 2% were Chinese and only 2% Indian. Of the study subjects, 37.6% had worked in their company or organisation for five years or less, 18.9% between 6 and 10 years, and less than 16 % for both 11 to 15 years and 16 to 20 years. The results also revealed that 12.6% of the respondents (n = 38) had worked for more than 20 years in their company, with a longest-serving period of 40 years. The mean of length of service of workers was 10.91 years (SD = 8.97). Referring to an education levels, 11 people (3.7%) hold a bachelor or higher degree, 89 people (30.2%) graduated with a diploma or some technical or professional certification. Majority of respondents, 184 people (62.4%), only received a secondary school education, while six people (2%) were only educated to the primary school level. Lastly, 103 respondents (34.9%) had experienced an accident at workplace, while the remaining 192 (65.1%) had not. They are many types of accidents cited by respondents which more than 10 times were slipping, cutting of fingers, stumbling, and hands and legs being caught. These may seem like minor accidents but they can still have effects on worker's performance.

The Relationship between task factors or demands and OSH Performance
Result shows that the PWF dimensions to be significantly related (quantity demand and sensorial demand) to OSH performance (occupational stress, sickness, occupational accidents, absenteeism). Table 2.0 summarizes the regression results for all four dimensions of OSH performance. The study predicted that task factors had an impact on OSH performance, and would eventually provide improvements for workers and organizational performance. As mentioned in earlier studies, ergonomics implemented effectively can have a positive impact on an organization and its employees, which can improve overall human performance (Loo & Richardson, 2012;Kogi, 2012;Majorkumar et al., 2001;Shaliza et al., 2009). Occupational Stress -The task factors significantly predicted occupational stress and explained 33% of the variance in occupational stress. The overall regression model was significant, R2 = .33, F (7,287) = 2.83, p < .001. Especially on quantity demand (β = .51, p = .00) is positively significant towards occupational stress. Yet, sensorial demands were not significant (β = -.02, p =.69), It is clear that increasing the number of tasks or duties assigned to employees can result in increased stress, leading to unfortunate health. This finding is consistent with past studies, which reported that the burden of work load increases worker's stress (Ahsan et al., 2009;Edimansyah, 2008;Salleh et al., 2008;Yahaya et al., 2010).
Sickness -The overall regression model was significant, R2 = .10, F (7,287) = 4.5, p < .001. Quantity demands had showed a significant positive relationship to sickness (β = .24, p = .00) while sensorial demands (β = .02, p = .71) are not significant, this consequence is similar to that found in other studies, which reported that sickness among employees is elevated when the burden of tasks at work is increased (Shaliza et al., 2009;Zafir et al., 2013). As mentioned by Morgan et al (1976), workers sickness is associated to organization's failure to distribute a suitable amount of capability to the employees.
Occupational Accident -The overall regression model was significant, R2 =.12, F (7,287) = 5.66, p < .001. There are only two dimensions were found to be significant, namely quantity demands was positively significant (β = .18, p = .00), sensorial demands was to be negatively significant (β = -.23, p = .00) toward occupational accident. However, the relationship of the variables is at the contradictory direction. Based on the result shown that when the types of work is challenging such as in this highly required concentration in work, work may be perceived to be pleasurable and non-monotonous that eventually avoids workers to involve with any risk and hazard as well as accident. Working in the happy mood was found to reduce injuries, danger, as well as accident (Arnold & Evangelia, 2008;Davis, 2000;Hwajin, Sujin & Alice, 2013).
Absenteeism -The overall regression model was significant, R2 = .06, F (7,287) = 2.82, p < .001. Quantity demands (β = .19, p = .00) is positively significant towards absenteeism. Moreover, sensorial demand (β = -.09, p = .12) are not significantly towards absenteeism. Results also shows that quantity demand is positively significantly towards absenteeism, which is consistent with earlier studies that had reported task demands cause tiredness, frustration, obstruction and a feeling of being overwhelmed, which and the end can lead to worker's absenteeism (Harrison & Martopcio, 1998;Luz & Green, 1997). Some workers also claimed that their involvement in accidents in the workplace led to them not attending work due to getting a future health treatment and medical certificate.

The Relationship between PWF and OSH Performance
Referring to the next objective of study is to identify the relationship of PWF toward OSH performance. Result indicated the relationship between PWF and OSH Performance shows that PWF (decision authority & social support) are negatively related to OSH performance. The results, as illustrated in Table 3.0. The overall regression model was significant, R2 = 11, F (2,292) = 18.22, p < .000. Result presented that decision authority negatively significant (β = -.32, p = .00) toward occupational stress, while social support (β = -.03, p = .55) were not significant.
Referring to the dimension of sickness shows the overall regression model was significant, R2 = .03, (F = 5.15, p =.01). There was a negatively significant of decision authority (β = -.19, p = .00) toward sickness as well as the dimension of social support was not significant (β = .06, p = .27) toward sickness. While occupational accidents were found to not significantly for both dimensions of PWF too. The overall regression model was significant, R2 =.01, (F = 1.28, p = .28). Decision authority (β = .10, p = .11) and social support (β = -.02, p = .75) toward occupational accident. Finally for the absenteeism shows the overall regression model was significant, R2 = .00, (F = .06, p = .94). Decision authority (β = -.21, p = .73) was found to not significant toward absenteeism and social support (β = .02, p = .99) was also insignificant towards absenteeism. These results disclose that absenteeism cannot be blamed on the limited of having support and the involvement of employees in making decisions connected to their duty or task. It can be say that health problem, family issues and individual problem could be the reasons of employees absent from work (Silverstein, 2008& Weichel et al., 2009). According to Zafir (2014) had mentioned that occupational stressors are significantly, but negatively, related to individual productivity, including work relationships; work-life balance; job security which actually related the other elements of PWF among employees.
A study on systematic reviews has found the inconsistency of PWF toward health, particularly on the blood pressure of workers (Gilbert-Ouimet, 2014; Landsbergis et al., 2013). Hereafter, Warren (2004) claimed that evidence for the relationship of the roles PWF in developing employee's health are still not clearly understood. For example, study indicated from the 22 studies of the PWF toward health, 13 have showed insignificant consequence (Landsbergis et al., 2013). These shown inconsistencies of the result of studies and it might go to the current of study.

Conclusion
Although OSH performance was considered of great significance in the printing companies, with each company striving to avoid problems related to OSH at workplace, most respondents were not alert of the term 'ergonomics', nor did they understand the importance and the significance of ergonomics to the individual as well as to an organisation. Most respondents assumed that ergonomics was similar to OSH at workplace, relating for example to the wearing all the personal protection equipment such as safety shoes, ear protection and being aware of the dangers of chemicals in the workplace. Indeed several previous studies of ergonomics in Malaysia found that the level of awareness of the topic among workers was low (Rahman & Selamat, 2020: Loo & Richardson, 2012Jia Wern & Selamat, 2020;Rozlina et al., 2012;Selamat, 2016: Shaliza et al., 2009Zafir & Durishah, 2009).
The implementation of training programs had shown a significant on the development of knowledge and awareness of employees on a subject. In the context of occupational safety and health, safety training is important and should be done in every organization so that the relevant elements can be used while performing tasks in the workplace. The study found that organizations need to ensure that employees' duties support the use of knowledge and skills learned in training so that the training provided can stimulate learning motivation and beneficial to both employees and employers (Siti-Fardaniah, 2018). On the other hand, with a good communication among higher management and employees will turn positively enhance safety culture at work which eventually leads to best performance of employees (Zitty et al., 2019).
On the top of view, it would be interesting to replicate this study with future modifications. This would best take the form of a thorough investigation of the occurrence of OSH problems at workplace through a longitudinal study which are focusing on OSH before and after its implementation, and would include the ergonomic aspects owing to the importance of implementing ergonomics at the organisation. As a final point, the used of meta-analysis approaches, may defining a good context OSH performance at work. The generalization of the concept task factors, PWF and OSH performance could improve the development of knowledge study in the manufacturing industry (specifically in the printing companies) and to the other organizations. At the end, the enlargement of data, facts, and information affect to the sustaining safety and health aspect at work in future.