Work-Related Musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) among aircraft inspectors
Aircraft inspection and maintenance tasks are usually conducted under extreme working conditions where the tasks have to be performed in restricted spaces that force awkward postures. Aircraft structures are designed as a compromise among aerodynamics, strength, weight, and access. Optimum access must be conceded in order to meet other requirements, thus requiring many aircraft inspection and maintenance tasks to be performed in non-optimum conditions which may lead to fatigue. One of aviation industry job that require awkward body posture and working with hands above shoulder is the inspection of cargo bay or hold area specifically below the floor beam and panel. Also, the low ceiling height in some aircraft force aircraft inspectors to work in kneeling, awkward posture and often at or above shoulder level. Normally the condition of this cargo area is poorly lighted, hot, bad ventilation and confined. The job of aircraft inspector is to check the conditions of the structure such as stringer, body frame and skin for defects such as mainly cracks and corrosion. In order to do that, inspectors use several aid tools such as torch light, inspection mirror. A NDT inspector has to carry and use more advanced equipment such as eddy current or ultrasonic sets together with the probe/tester. Normally it will take at least 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the area to be inspected, normal visual inspection or detailed non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection and accessibility. Based on the likely ergonomics risks of the inspectors, a study was conducted to identify the ergonomic risk factors of aircraft inspection task in a confined space particularly, the cargo bay of Boeing 737. Two local maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies in Malaysia were chosen for this study. Questionnaire was used and observations of the tasks performed were made on 25 inspectors who complained that they experience body discomfort and pain for the last six months. Information regarding the tasks and area of inspections which affect inspectors ergonomically, the most complained body parts/area and possible interventions based on their personal experiences were obtained. The PLIBEL checklist was used as an assessment tool for the evaluation of these ergonomic conditions. The inspectors indicated that they spent more than 50％ of their time inspecting the cargo bay/compartment of the narrow bodied aircraft in confined space. All of the inspectors experienced body discomfort mainly in the neck, shoulder and upper back, with 22 complaining of pains in the elbow, forearm and hand, 16 with low back pains and about half in the knees and hips followed by 10 inspectors having pain in their feet. Among contributions to WRMD of the inspectors were age, work experience, body height and hours spent for inspection in the cargo bay. The inspectors and the employer can take several initiatives to avoid WRMDs and the inspection tasks should be redesigned to be safer, healthier and comfortable to the workers.
Work related musculosketal-disorders aircraft inspection PLIBEL checklists
Rosnah Mohd. Yusuff Mohd. Yusran Abdul Samad Norzima Zulkifli
Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti PutraMalays Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malay
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
1-7
2009-08-09（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）