Comparative Analysis of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Security Guards and Supermarket Employees Using Nordic Body Map

Abstract

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are common occupational health problems, particularly in jobs involving prolonged static postures and manual handling activities. This study aimed to analyze differences in the level of musculoskeletal complaints between security guards and supermarket employees using the Nordic Body Map (NBM) method. A quantitative comparative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 30 respondents, consisting of 15 security guards and 15 supermarket employees, selected through total sampling. Data were collected using the NBM questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with the Independent Samples t-test applied at a significance level of α = 0.05.  The results showed that among security guards, 66.7% of respondents were classified as having low risk and 33.3% as moderate risk, where as among supermarket employees, 53.3% were categorized as low risk and 46.7% as moderate risk. The mean NBM score for security guards was 46.46 ± 5.57, while for supermarket employees it was 46.73 ± 11.04. Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference between the two worker groups (p = 0.934). These findings suggest that despite differences in job characteristics, the ergonomic workload experienced by both groups is relatively
comparable, particularly due to similarities in the duration of exposure to static working postures. The implications of this study emphasize that preventive ergonomic interventions such as posture education, appropriate rest scheduling, and regular muscle stretching—should be broadly implemented for both groups to prevent an increased risk of MSDs in the future.