Can a Back Belt Effect Working Posture: Laboratory Evaluation of a New Design

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a new back belt design on postural transitions during reaching. That is, an object close to the operator can be reached by just extending the arm; however, at some point, the operator must change postures by flexing the trunk. Previous work in our laboratory has determined that these transition points occur closer than the maximum distance set by the subject's anthropometry. Such transition points may reflect a user-generated margin of safety; protecting against extremes of ranges of motion. The current study compared back belt with no back belt reaching in a simulated pick and place task at various distances. Results indicate that when subjects wore the belt while reaching, they tended to have transition points closer to their bodies, than while not reaching. Hence, the belt seems to act to preserve a greater margin of safety-keeping the user from extreme ranges of motion.