{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:46:46Z","timestamp":1760143606502,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]],"date-time":"2024-02-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708473600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia within the R&amp;D Units Project Scope","award":["UIDB\/00319\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00319\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Safety"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are highly prevalent among supermarket cashiers. These disorders are frequently related to the adoption of awkward postures and manual materials handling. This study aimed to analyze musculoskeletal loadings in supermarket cashiers, considering the handling of different products and different checkout conditions. To accomplish this, we employed an inertial motion capture system to measure full-body kinematics while simulating 19 cashier tasks. The study included five female cashiers from a supermarket in Northern Portugal, ranging in age from 19 to 61 years old. Using joint angles, material load, and muscle function as input parameters, we conducted the musculoskeletal loadings assessment using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) methods. Results showed that RULA scores were higher for the microtasks that involved product scanning. Regarding microstasks analyzed by REBA, the replacement of paper rolls for the receipt machine at the checkout counter yields the highest scores. Based on these findings, there is a compelling need to redesign supermarket checkout workstations to alleviate the physical demands placed on cashiers and to ensure organizational sustainability.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/safety10010021","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,22]],"date-time":"2024-02-22T03:30:26Z","timestamp":1708572626000},"page":"21","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Understanding Musculoskeletal Loadings among Supermarket Checkout Counter Cashiers: A Biomechanical Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-1161-5533","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"T\u00e2nia T.","family":"Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida n\u00ba 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Catarina","family":"Sousa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida n\u00ba 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1138-1534","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Colim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Algoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6175-6934","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matilde A.","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida n\u00ba 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. Ant\u00f3nio Bernardino de Almeida n\u00ba 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Algoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ergon.2011.01.006","article-title":"Checkout cashier work and counter design\u2014Video movement analysis, musculoskeletal disorders and customer interaction","volume":"41","author":"Kihlstedt","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Ind. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"934","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-04879-8","article-title":"Technical field measurements of muscular workload during stocking activities in supermarkets: Cross-sectional study","volume":"12","author":"Skovlund","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"INE (Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica) (2021). ESTAT\u00cdSTICAS DO COM\u00c9RCIO\u2014Unidades Comerciais de Dimens\u00e3o Relevante, Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica. Available online: https:\/\/www.ine.pt\/ngt_server\/attachfileu.jsp?look_parentBoui=587372449&att_display=n&att_download=y."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"IBISWorld (2023, September 04). Supermarkets & Grocery Stores in Portugal\u2014Industry Statistics & Market Research. Available online: https:\/\/www.ibisworld.com\/portugal\/industry-statistics\/supermarkets-grocery-stores\/2915\/."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"INE (Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica) (2023). Sistema de Metainforma\u00e7\u00e3o. 5230.1\u2014Operador de Caixa (2023), Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica. Available online: https:\/\/smi.ine.pt\/Categoria\/Detalhes\/2922651?modal=1."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"989","DOI":"10.1080\/10803548.2022.2108653","article-title":"Self-reported neck and back pain among supermarket cashiers in Gaborone, Botswana","volume":"29","author":"Erick","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Saf. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1080\/00140130119569","article-title":"Effects of sitting versus standing and scanner type on cashiers","volume":"44","author":"Lehman","year":"2001","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Algarni, F.S., Alkhaldi, H.A., Zafar, H., Kachanathu, S.J., Al-Shenqiti, A.M., and Altowaijri, A.M. (2020). Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Disorders and Quality of Life in Supermarket Cashiers. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17249256"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2015.09.004","article-title":"The importance of work organization on workload and musculoskeletal health\u2014Grocery store work as a model","volume":"53","author":"Balogh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ergon.2017.03.004","article-title":"Characterization of cashier shoulder and low back muscle demands","volume":"59","author":"Maciukiewicz","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Ind. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"191","article-title":"Work-related self-reported musculoskeletal injuries in Portuguese hypermarket cashiers","volume":"110","author":"Minghelli","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med. Lav."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ergon.2005.09.002","article-title":"The effect of handling products of different weights on trunk kinematics of supermarket cashiers","volume":"36","author":"Rodacki","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Ind. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1080\/00140138908966103","article-title":"The prevalence of musculo-skeletal symptoms in supermarket workers","volume":"32","author":"Ryan","year":"1989","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139008927093","article-title":"Neck and shoulder muscle activity during work with different cash register systems","volume":"33","author":"Lannersten","year":"1990","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ergon.2004.05.007","article-title":"Survey of ergonomic features of supermarket cash registers","volume":"34","author":"Shinnar","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int. J. Ind. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"650","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2012.659762","article-title":"Biomechanical evaluation of supermarket cashiers before and after a redesign of the checkout counter","volume":"55","author":"Draicchio","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ergonomics"},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Cvetkovic, A. (2023, September 12). Cashier Training 101: Tips and Strategies for Retailers. Store Management. Available online: https:\/\/www.shopify.com\/retail\/cashier-training."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, Y. (2012, January 14\u201316). Study on Cashier Work of the Information Age. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Computing and Applications, Chengde, China.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-34041-3_86"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/S0003-6870(99)00039-3","article-title":"Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)","volume":"31","author":"Hignett","year":"2000","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-6870(93)90080-S","article-title":"RULA: A survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders","volume":"24","author":"McAtamney","year":"1993","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Colim, A., Cardoso, A., Arezes, P., Braga, A.C., Peixoto, A.C., Peixoto, V., Wolbert, F., Carneiro, P., Costa, N., and Sousa, N. (2021). Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation. Safety, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/safety7040074"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Colim, A., Faria, C., Cunha, J., Oliveira, J., Sousa, N., and Rocha, L.A. (2021). Physical Ergonomic Improvement and Safe Design of an Assembly Workstation through Collaborative Robotics. Safety, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/safety7010014"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"1","article-title":"Xsens MVN: Consistent Tracking of Human Motion Using Inertial Sensing","volume":"1","author":"Schepers","year":"2018","journal-title":"Xsens Technol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"324","DOI":"10.1016\/j.admp.2017.02.004","article-title":"\u00c9tude descriptive sur les troubles musculosquelettiques dans le secteur du commerce alimentaire de d\u00e9tail en France","volume":"78","author":"Quignette","year":"2017","journal-title":"Arch. Mal. Prof. l\u2019Environnement"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2023.104044","article-title":"Increasing movement during office work at sit-stand workstations: A novel seating device to facilitate transitions","volume":"111","author":"Noguchi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apergo.2018.07.012","article-title":"Workstation configuration and container type influence upper limb posture in grocery bagging","volume":"73","author":"Lang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl. Ergon."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Meyersohn, N. (2023, September 25). Nobody Likes Self-Checkout. Here\u2019s Why It\u2019s Everywhere. CNN Business. Available online: https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2022\/07\/09\/business\/self-checkout-retail\/index.html."},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"4117","article-title":"Comfort and ergonomics evaluation of a checkout workstation","volume":"13","author":"Comentale","year":"2018","journal-title":"ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1637","DOI":"10.1080\/00140139.2015.1035763","article-title":"Effects of sitting and standing on upper extremity physical exposures in materials handling tasks","volume":"58","author":"Cudlip","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ergonomics"}],"container-title":["Safety"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2313-576X\/10\/1\/21\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:02:42Z","timestamp":1760104962000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2313-576X\/10\/1\/21"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3]]}},"alternative-id":["safety10010021"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/safety10010021","relation":{},"ISSN":["2313-576X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2313-576X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]}}}