Level of knowledge on ergonomic risks: a case study among informal automobile and motorcycle mechanics in Santo Tomás, Atlántico, Colombia

Automobile and motorcycle mechanics performed in informal settings entail substantial ergonomic exposures that heighten musculoskeletal risk. This case study estimated the level of knowledge about ergonomic risks among informal automobile and motorcycle mechanics in Santo Tomás (Atlántico, Colombia). We used an observational, analytical–descriptive, crosssectional design; a structured multiplechoice questionnaire with dichotomous scoring was administered, and knowledge was classified as low, medium, or high based on the percentage of correct responses. Twenty workers participated; the overall score indicated moderate knowledge (mean correct 66.4%), with a predominance of the medium level and notable gaps. By domains, performance was higher in general preventive fundamentals and visual hygiene, intermediate in posture and workstation aspects, and weakest in manual material handling and work organization/microbreaks. The lowestperforming items involved safe holding height at waist level, recognition of typical overload injuries (e.g., disc damage), the recommended liftingweight reference, and the scheduling of microbreaks during prolonged tasks. Findings support prioritizing lowcost, highly feasible interventions height adjustments, simple mechanical aids, workstation organization, and microbreak planning within a participatory ergonomics approach aligned with the local OHS management system (SGSST), to translate technical knowledge into sustainable practices and reduce the musculoskeletal burden in this sector.