Evaluation of musculoskeletal workload of manual operating tasks using a hydraulic jack based on ergonomic postural analysis and electromyography: A case study of non-professional young male users-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Evaluation of musculoskeletal workload of manual operating tasks using a hydraulic jack based on ergonomic postural analysis and electromyography: A case study of non-professional young male users

Published:2022-06-21 Issue:2 Volume:72 Page:677-685
ISSN:1051-9815
Container-title:Work
language:
Short-container-title:WOR

Author:

Sugama Atsushi¹,Nishimura Takahiro²,Doi Kouki³,Shimada Shigenobu⁴,Chikai Manabu⁵,Nunokawa Kiyohiko⁶,Ino Shuichi⁷

Affiliation:

1. Risk Management Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan

2. Department of Teacher Training, National Institute of Special Needs Education, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan

3. Faculty of Human Life and Science, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan

4. Technology and Management Support Department, Technology Evaluation Support Section, Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute, Koto, Tokyo, Japan

5. Behavior Information Design Group, Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

6. School of Human and Social Sciences, Tokyo International University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan

7. Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Manual operations of the hydraulic jack device can become ergonomic stressors for the musculoskeletal system because of the required operational forces, muscle activities, or working postures. However, the usability of the hydraulic jack has not been fully explored for non-professional personnel. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the musculoskeletal loads during manual operations of a hydraulic jack based on the ergonomic postural analysis and electromyography METHODS: Nine men operated the lever of a hydraulic jack with three positions: parallel to and near (P-N), parallel to and far from (P-F), and orthogonal to the jack lever (O). Postural loads were evaluated by Loading on the Upper Body Assessment (LUBA), an ergonomic observational method, and were classified into action categories. The surface electromyogram of eight muscles and the subjective sense of burden were also measured. RESULTS: The initial force for lever pushing reached 40–80 N and exceeded the recommended forces for the unusual postures. The overall assessment of LUBA showed that 31% of working postures observed in O position require immediate consideration and corrective action and the maximum holding time estimated was < 1 minute. The postural load increased due to the shoulder joint abduction in the P-F and O positions and due to the trunk rotation in O position. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that operating the hydraulic jack cause considerable postural loads and manual forces insufficient for several minutes of manual task. Therefore, improving working methods and tool designs are needed to improve usability and decrease the risk of musculoskeletal disorders during jack operations.

Publisher

IOS Press

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Rehabilitation

Reference32 articles.

1. U.S. Fire Administration. Fire and emergency medical services ergonomics: A guide for understanding and imple-menting an ergonomics program in your department. Management. 1996;

2. National Fire Protection Association. United States Fire-fighter Injuries in 2018. 2019.

3. Work activities and the onset of first-time low back pain among New York city fire fighters;Nuwayhid;Am J Epidemiol,1993

4. Ergonomics in the rescue service—Ergonomic evaluation of ambulance cots;Kluth;Int J Ind Ergon [In press],2006

5. Designing ergonomic interventions for EMS workers: Concept generation of patient-handling devices;Conrad;Appl Ergon,2008