Estudio de las afectaciones de la postura que mantienen los conductores de buses interprovinciales de la ruta Quito – Ibarra para mitigar daño a la salud acorde a una ergonomía segura

Abstract

This degree work provides a detailed analysis of the conditions that may arise while driving on long routes, focusing specifically on the route from Quito to Ibarra. Through the compilation of various sources of information, it was possible to identify the most common and prolonged positions adopted by the driver, as well as those that generate greater postural load and fatigue. The use of video analysis software was essential to obtain graphs that represent the driver's position as a function of time, speed and acceleration. This allows the postures that presented the greatest ergonomic risk to be clearly and precisely visualized. As a result, three main positions were determined to be associated with greater fatigue: the moment of shifting gears, opening the vehicle doors or hatches, and driving with both hands on the wheel. The application of the REBA method turned out to be an effective tool to evaluate the risk level of each identified posture. Through this methodology, evaluations were assigned that reflect the degree of ergonomic risk in each position. Based on these results, it was concluded that the most frequent conditions related to driving on long routes are related to the back, such as low back pain or herniated discs; the neck, such as cervical tension syndrome; the wrists, such as carpal tunnel syndrome; and the legs, such as the appearance of clots or varicose veins. These findings are of great importance, as they raise awareness about the ergonomic risks associated with driving on long routes and provide recommendations to prevent and minimize the aforementioned conditions. Based on this study, intervention measures can be implemented, such as improving the ergonomic design of the vehicle, promoting active breaks during long journeys, and raising drivers' awareness of the importance of maintaining proper postures.