The Effect of Ergonomic Batik Chairs on Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Traditional Batik Makers

Abstract

In the traditional batik industry, batik makers typically use a small chair known as a "dingklik," which is not ergonomically designed. This often leads to poor posture and discomfort during work. The objective of this study was to develop a chair specifically tailored to the anthropometric measurements of batik makers, ensuring an ergonomic working position. The benefits of this ergonomic chair were assessed by evaluating musculoskeletal disorder scores. This research is categorized as quasi-experimental and involves 60 participants, comprising 30 individuals in the experimental group (using the newly designed chairs) and 30 in the control group (using traditional chairs). Statistical analyses included Paired Samples T-Test, Independent Samples T-Test, and Analysis of Covariance, with a significance level of (?) = 0.05. There were significant differences in musculoskeletal disorders before and after using the customized chair design (p = 0.000). Confounding variables such as age (p = 0.689), years of service (p = 0.407), and body mass index (p = 0.187) did not significantly impact the observed differences in musculoskeletal disorders. In conclusion, ergonomic chairs prove beneficial in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among traditional batik industry workers.