Analysis of Mental Workload and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in public transportation drivers in Ciudad Juarez

Abstract

Abstract: In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, public transportation service lacks of safe and ergonomic conditions, attributed to the state of the roads, buses, and drivers' performance. Other stressors present in drivers are long working hours, rotating shifts, vehicular traffic, and those related to their state of health. This research aims to determine the sources of drivers' mental workload, as well as the most frequent musculoskeletal discomforts and experimented aggressions during work. The methodology has 6 phases. In the first phases, a bibliographic search was carried out as well as the evidence of drivers' performance, health status, violence at work, unit conditions, and the number of users. In the fourth phase, the Marley and Kumar and NASA TLX methods were implemented. In the final phases, the main sources and level of mental workload and musculoskeletal discomfort were determined. As a result, the sample of 27 drivers was characterized based on sociodemographic indicators. In addition, the main musculoskeletal discomfort was identified where the right hand, lower/middle back, eyes, right wrist, and buttocks, were the body parts probably requiring medical treatment according to the frequency and intensity manifested. Additionally, 22% of the drivers presented a high mental workload, 67% medium, and 11% low, where temporal and physical demands are the most relevant mental workload sources. Also, all drivers present some discomfort of different intensity and frequency in their bodies and some level of mental workload. Therefore, more studies are needed in this vulnerable profession due to its impact on the safety of passengers, third parties, and themselves.