4.2. Differences between sectors
The FIOH MSD and REBA methods are those that discriminate
between industrial sectors. The REBA method appears to be the
only method able to capture the very awkward postures that were
regularly observed only in the tree nursery sector (squatting, sitting
on the ground, lumbar flexion greater than 90 and torso twisting).
As for FIOH MSD, the differences between Tree nursery/Other and
Tree nursery/Plastics-composites show the ability of this method,
like REBA, to detect the more extreme postures adopted in tree
nurseries. The tree nursery sector’s much shorter cycle times compared to two other sectors (Plastics-composites and Other) also
influenced the FIOH MSD score that assesses repetitiveness. The
differences between Plastics-composites/Appliances and Other/
Appliances also emerge in the score assessing repetitiveness since
cycle times are shorter at Appliances sector workstations than they
are at workstations in the Other and Plastics-composites sectors.
Another difference between Plastics-composites and Appliances
occurs in the FIOH score assessing lifting. The loads handled were
heavier in the Plastics-composites sector than in Appliances, where
the work involved handling light loads at a high rate of repetition
(Chiasson, 2011).