Risk assessment and the effects of overhead work in the automotive industry
The focus of this investigation was an analysis of the demands that overhead work placed on the human operator. In the present study, the effects of the varying heights and load on the biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical responses of an individual were investigated. Twenty-eight subjects were required to complete sixteen conditions (8 postures, each 2 loads). The conditions consisted of the adoption of restricted (working overhead while restricted in a stooped posture) and upright overhead static postures. Each condition that the subject completed was adjusted to their stature, within a range from -200mm below to +400mm above their stature. Testing was carried out using electromyography (EMG), ergospirometry and a perceptual body discomfort map and scale. Height as well as load had a significant effect on the biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical responses. The restricted (-200mm and -100mm) and highest upright (+300mm and +400mm) overhead conditions within this study elicited the highest muscle activation, physiological responses and body discomfort ratings. Positions that are preferable to adopt are close to head height (0mm and +100mm). Maximal endurance time was estimated for each condition and ranged from 1.54 (-200mm restricted overhead) to 9 minutes (+100mm overhead) without weight and from 0.12 minutes (-200 mm restricted overhead) to 2.54 minutes (+200mm overhead) with weight.
Andrew B Elliott Matthias Goebel
Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
国际会议
17th World Congress on Ergonomics(第十七届国际人类工效学大会)
北京
英文
1-9
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）