Quasi-Experimental Study on the Use of Ergonomic Tools among Seaweed Workers in Takalar District

The agricultural sector has many activities that are not standardized but vary according to daily and seasonal work needs. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are the highest case experienced by seaweed farmers in Takalar Regency. Generally work positions that are not ergonomic causing MSDs. This study aimed to see the effect of musculoskeletal disorders before and after giving ergonomic work tools to seaweed farmers in Takalar Regency. This type of research uses a quasi- experimental Pretest Posttest Nonequivalent Control Group Design. The sample in this study was 72 seaweed workers, divided into 36 people in the intervention group and 36 in the control group. The research location is in Mangarabombang District, Takalar Regency. The research instrument also uses a Nordic body map to measure musculoskeletal disorders in seaweed workers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software with the Wilcoxon test. This study concludes that there is a difference in the intervention group's average pre and posttest scores after being given ergonomic work tools. This also shows that providing ergonomic work tools reduces the complaints of MSDs in seaweed farmers in Takalar Regency. Further research is needed to examine other factors that can reduce the risk of MSDs in seaweed workers, such as medical history, working hours, and years of service.