FUNGAL CONTAMINATION AND ERGONOMIC ASSESSMENT AT NURSING HOMES

Farah Ayuni Shafie

Abstract

Objective: The caregivers and the elderly in the nursing homes may be exposed to various health risk from their surroundings. This study assessed fungal contamination, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and thermal comfort together in the nursing homes in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

 

Method: Indoor air quality monitor was used to measure temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) and open plate method to determine the average total colony count of fungi. Temperature, relative humidity and air velocity were measured for thermal comfort. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool and standardized Nordic questionnaire to determine the risk level and prevalence of MSDs.

 

Result: Fungal contamination assessment found that the average total colony count of fungi isolated at the two nursing homes was 488.38 ppm and 470.67 ppm respectively with three genera of fungi identified; Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp. There was significant association between temperature and CO2 with fungal growth. The results of ergonomics assessment of MSDs shows the prevalence of MSDs was high at lower back (66.7%) and shoulder (60.6%) with the risk factors from lifting, carrying, pulling and repositioning of the elderly. REBA assessment conducted on caregivers found that 51.52% caregivers were exposed to high risk, 30.30% of them were at medium risk and 18.18% of them exposed to very high risk of MSDs. As for thermal comfort, temperature, relative humidity and air flow rate measurements did not comply with the standard of ASHRAE 55.

 

Conclusion: On-site monitoring and survey conducted were able to provide baseline to improve the health and welfare of the occupants of the nursing homes.

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